Unit 3: Energy and Work Concepts

Flashcards covering vocabulary and key concepts related to energy, work, and mechanical systems.

Translational Kinetic Energy

Energy of motion of an object. ½ mv²

Work

Amount of mechanical energy that moves in or out of a system.

Conservative Force

A force where the work done is independent of the path taken and only depends on the initial and final positions.

Mechanical Energy

The total energy in a system, including kinetic and potential energy (gravitational and elastic)

Gravitational Potential Energy (Ug)

Energy stored due to the position of an object relative to the Earth, calculated as Ug = mgh.

Elastic Potential Energy

Energy stored in a mass-spring system, proportional to the square of the displacement from equilibrium. Calculated as ½ k(x)²

Law of Conservation of Energy

Energy can never be created or destroyed in an isolated system; total mechanical energy remains constant.

Work-Energy Theorem

The work done by non-conservative forces or external forces equals the change in the mechanical energy of the system.

Power

The rate at which energy changes with respect to time, measured in watts. P avg= w/t, P instant = F*V cos()

Non-Conservative Forces

Forces like friction and air resistance that do work dependent on the path taken.