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muzz
Nov30-10, 05:58 PM
why work is defined? and when it was defined ( approximately) and who has defined it? It is one of the most important things in physics and I am wondering that is it defined only for make the seeing and understanding things in the nature easier?

Actually I am also wondering about when and how did people approach mechanical or any physical things through conservation of energy or work-energy theorem.

Everybody knows;such as, F=ma or orher laws details, but I ve never heard any historical things about energy, work, conservation, etc.

Thank you all in advance...

jtbell
Nov30-10, 09:30 PM
The term "work" was apparently coined by Coriolis (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaspard-Gustave_Coriolis) in the 1820s.