How Do Potential and Kinetic Energy Work Together in Flywheel Energy Storage?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the concepts of potential and kinetic energy in the context of flywheel energy storage. Participants explore the physics behind how flywheels store energy, the role of inertia, and the definitions of energy types.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions the fundamental definition of energy and seeks to understand how a flywheel stores energy.
  • Another participant emphasizes the role of inertia in flywheels, suggesting that a large mass helps reduce speed fluctuations once the flywheel reaches operating speed.
  • A mathematical expression for the energy stored in a flywheel is presented as E=(1/2)Iw^2, indicating that energy is stored through rotation.
  • One participant defines energy as the ability to do work, while another challenges this by stating that only potential energy can do work and that energy is the sum of kinetic and potential energy.
  • A further challenge is raised regarding the definition of work, using a collision example to argue that kinetic energy can also do work, thus questioning the earlier claim about potential energy.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express disagreement regarding the definitions and roles of potential and kinetic energy, with no consensus reached on whether only potential energy can do work or if kinetic energy also plays a role.

Contextual Notes

There are unresolved definitions and assumptions regarding energy types and their ability to perform work, as well as the implications of inertia in energy storage systems.

chandran
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What is energy?How a flywheel stores energy? What is the physics behind that?
 
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Inertia. A flywheel is meant to have a mass that is, compared to the system it is in, rather large. Once the flywheel is brought up to operating speed, it's inertia helps to eliminate or reduce speed fluctuations in the system.
 
The energy in a flywheel is E=(1/2)Iw^2.
By making the wheel rotate, this energy can be stored.
The energy can later be used by connecting to the rotating wheel.
 
Energy is the ability to do work.
 
No, I think the abillity to do work is potential energy. Energy is the sum of kinetic energy and potential energy.
 
pocoman said:
No, I think the abillity to do work is potential energy. Energy is the sum of kinetic energy and potential energy.


So you are implying that only potential energy can do work? How would you explain a collision situation when an object (such as a billiard) collides with another billiard to change the kinetic energy of the collided billiard(changing it's velocity to a nonzero value, thereby giving it a kinetic energy)? (any change in energy is caused by work being done, therefore the colliding billiard did work on the collided billiard.)
 

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