ES: Does a Engine At Idle Have Potential Energy?

Click For Summary
SUMMARY

An engine at idle, such as an airplane ready for takeoff, possesses chemical potential energy due to the fuel stored within it. This energy is released when the engine operates, breaking chemical bonds to produce kinetic energy. However, in terms of mechanical potential energy, there is none unless a reference point is established, such as height above ground level. The discussion emphasizes the distinction between chemical potential energy in fuel and mechanical potential energy in the engine itself.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of chemical potential energy
  • Basic knowledge of mechanical energy concepts
  • Familiarity with reference points in physics
  • Awareness of engine operation principles
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the principles of chemical potential energy in fuels
  • Learn about mechanical energy and reference points in physics
  • Explore the operation of internal combustion engines
  • Investigate the differences between potential and kinetic energy
USEFUL FOR

Students of physics, aerospace engineers, and anyone interested in the energy dynamics of engines and fuel systems.

mispoken
Messages
1
Reaction score
0
Hello, Curious to know, does an engine at idle have potential energy? For instance would an airplane sitting at the end of a runway at idle ready for takeoff have potential energy?

Thanks
P
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Yes, it's the chemical potential energy in the fuel.

Hit the gas-->Burn fuel-->Break chemical bonds-->VROOOM!
 
Tom Mattson said:
Yes, it's the chemical potential energy in the fuel.

Hit the gas-->Burn fuel-->Break chemical bonds-->VROOOM!
The fuel is quite a different object than an engine unless you're talking about the fuel that is already inside the engine.

There is no meaning to an absolute potential for anything. Only differences of potential have meaning. Normally a reference location is chosen and the difference with respect to that reference point is said to be the potential of the object with respect to that location.

Discounting the fuel there is no mechanical potential energy if the reference location is chosen to be ground level (discounting height about runway that is). I don't recall anything inside an airplane engine which can be referred to as mechanical potential. But as Tom said there is chemical potential energy in the fuel.

Pete
 
pmb_phy said:
The fuel is quite a different object than an engine unless you're talking about the fuel that is already inside the engine.

Yes, that's what I mean.
 

Similar threads

High School Conceptually understanding change in potential energy with 0 net work
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
2K
Undergrad Gravitational potential energy
  • · Replies 46 ·
2
Replies
46
Views
5K
Undergrad "A system tries to minimize total potential energy"
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
Undergrad System, potential energy, and nonconservative forces
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
Undergrad Change of coordinates in a potential energy field
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
Undergrad Looking for a trajectory integrator that also supports cubic potential
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
Undergrad How to interpret this definition of potential energy?
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
2K
Undergrad Regarding the idea of potential energy
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
Graduate Meaning of potential energy in external fields
  • · Replies 19 ·
Replies
19
Views
2K
Undergrad How does gravitational potential energy work?
  • · Replies 27 ·
Replies
27
Views
12K