All Flashcards
What is the effect of doing positive work on an object?
The object's kinetic energy increases.
What is the effect of doing negative work on an object?
The object's kinetic energy decreases.
What happens when a spring is compressed or stretched?
Elastic potential energy is stored in the spring.
What happens when non-conservative forces are present in a system?
Mechanical energy is not conserved; some energy is converted to thermal energy.
What happens to gravitational potential energy as an object falls?
Gravitational potential energy decreases, and kinetic energy increases (assuming no non-conservative forces).
What is the difference between Kinetic and Gravitational Potential Energy?
Kinetic Energy: Energy of motion, depends on mass and velocity. | Gravitational Potential Energy: Energy of position, depends on mass, gravity, and height.
What is the difference between Conservative and Non-conservative Forces?
Conservative Forces: Work done is independent of the path taken (e.g., gravity, spring force). Mechanical energy is conserved. | Non-conservative Forces: Work done depends on the path taken (e.g., friction, air resistance). Mechanical energy is not conserved, and some energy is converted to thermal energy.
What is the definition of work?
The process of transferring energy into or out of a system by applying a force over a distance.
What is kinetic energy?
Energy an object possesses due to its motion.
What is gravitational potential energy?
Energy stored in an object due to its position in a gravitational field.
What is elastic potential energy?
Energy stored in a spring or other elastic material when it's stretched or compressed.
What is thermal energy?
Energy associated with the random motion of atoms and molecules within a system, often appearing as heat or sound.
Define mechanical energy.
The sum of kinetic and potential energies in a system.