Heat with relation to work or energy

[aglo6509]

Hello,
I know this seems silly to ask, but how could I figure out how much heat was given off when I know the force of an object hitting another?

 

[Doc Al]

What's important is how much macroscopic kinetic energy is 'lost' in the collision, not the force involved.

 

[aglo6509]

So if I know the KE of the system I can find the heat?

 

[Doc Al]

So if I know the KE of the system I can find the heat?

You need the amount of KE 'lost'. There are many kinds of energy other than 'heat' (random thermal energy), but you may be able to assume that most or all of the energy lost goes to 'heat'.

 

[aglo6509]

You need the amount of KE 'lost'. There are many kinds of energy other than 'heat' (random thermal energy), but you may be able to assume that most or all of the energy lost goes to 'heat'.

So if an object starts from rest 1/2 metre away from the object, I would first find Ug then KE right as it hits the object and assume all the lost energy is released as heat?

 

[Doc Al]

So if an object starts from rest 1/2 metre away from the object, I would first find Ug then KE right as it hits the object and assume all the lost energy is released as heat?

If you drop something and it comes to rest, all the mechanical energy (PE + KE) is lost. Some might go to sound and light, but sooner or later it all becomes random thermal motion somewhere.

Just set the initial PE (measured from the final position) equal to the 'heat' for a good estimate.