Work-energy principle and conservative forces

In summary, the conversation discusses equations related to the work-energy principle and how it is a special case of the integral. The conversation also touches on the concepts of conservative and non-conservative forces, equilibrium, and potential energy difference. The main equation discussed is W = F*x and its relationship to other equations and principles.
  • #1
mech-eng
828
13
Hi, all there are equation in the pic but I can't understand them. I know work-energy principle which
is W= F * X (work equals force times way) but I think they are special forms. What concepts
and topics should I study to understand them?
 

Attachments

  • equation about conservative forces and work.png
    equation about conservative forces and work.png
    29 KB · Views: 671
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #2
W = F*x is a special case of the integral:

[tex]W = \int F dx[/tex]

if F is not dependent on x, then we can write:

[tex]W = F \int_{x_i}^{x_f} dx[/tex]

and that's just

[tex]W = F (x_f - x_i) [/tex]

The x you use is the distance moved, which is just the difference between the final and initial position, as I have written.

The equation you show accounts for all forces on a particle and breaks them into conservative and non-conservative forces and assumes the particle is in equilibrium, setting that sum of forces to zero.
 
  • Like
Likes 1 person
  • #3
The text also makes use of the definition of potential energy difference dV in terms of the work done by a conservative force Wc= - dV
 

What is the work-energy principle?

The work-energy principle states that the work done on an object is equal to the change in its kinetic energy. This means that the amount of work done on an object will result in a change in its speed or direction of motion.

What are conservative forces?

Conservative forces are those that do not dissipate energy as they act on an object. This means that the work done by a conservative force is independent of the path taken by the object and only depends on the initial and final positions of the object.

How is the work-energy principle related to conservative forces?

The work-energy principle applies to all forces, including conservative forces. Since conservative forces do not dissipate energy, the work done by these forces will result in a change in the object's kinetic energy, as stated by the work-energy principle.

What are some examples of conservative forces?

Examples of conservative forces include gravity, electric and magnetic forces, and elastic forces. These forces do not dissipate energy and their work depends only on the initial and final positions of the object.

Why is the work-energy principle important?

The work-energy principle is important because it allows us to determine the change in an object's kinetic energy without having to know the details of the forces acting on it. It also helps us understand the relationship between work and energy, and how different forces affect an object's motion.

Similar threads

Replies
24
Views
1K
  • Mechanics
Replies
8
Views
1K
Replies
9
Views
2K
Replies
4
Views
1K
Replies
14
Views
2K
  • Mechanics
Replies
33
Views
2K
Replies
3
Views
1K
Replies
5
Views
851
Replies
10
Views
950
Replies
13
Views
737
Back
Top