All Flashcards
What is the Law of Conservation of Energy?
In a closed system, the total energy remains constant. Energy can transform from one form to another, but it cannot be created or destroyed.
Define Kinetic Energy.
Energy of motion. Mathematically represented as .
Define Potential Energy.
Stored energy due to position or configuration. Examples include gravitational potential energy () and spring potential energy ().
What are nonconservative forces?
Forces for which the work done depends on the path taken. Examples include friction and air resistance.
What are conservative forces?
Forces for which the work done is independent of the path taken. It only depends on the initial and final positions. Examples include gravity and spring force.
What is mechanical energy (ME)?
The sum of kinetic energy (K) and potential energy (U):
What is the effect of friction on mechanical energy?
Friction converts mechanical energy into thermal energy, reducing the total mechanical energy of the system.
What happens when positive work is done on a system?
The total energy of the system increases.
What happens when negative work is done on a system?
The total energy of the system decreases.
What is the effect of increasing the height of an object on its gravitational potential energy?
Increasing the height increases the gravitational potential energy:
What is the effect of increasing the spring constant on the potential energy stored?
Increasing the spring constant increases the potential energy stored in the spring:
What happens if no external work is done on a system and no nonconservative forces act?
The total mechanical energy of the system stays constant.
What is the effect of nonconservative forces doing work on a system?
The total mechanical energy of the system changes; energy is often lost as heat or sound.
What happens when only conservative forces act on a system?
The total mechanical energy of the system is conserved.
What is the effect of friction on a moving object?
Friction does negative work, reducing the kinetic energy of the object and converting it to thermal energy.