What is the connection between force and energy conservation?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion explores the relationship between force and energy, specifically addressing the concept of conservation in physics. Participants examine the implications of energy conservation in closed systems and question the applicability of conservation principles to force.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant asks about the relationship between force and energy.
  • Another participant states that energy equals force times distance, suggesting a mathematical connection.
  • A participant questions the validity of saying that force is conserved, noting that energy is conserved in closed systems.
  • Dan elaborates that while energy conservation implies a constant total energy in a closed system, force conservation is not generally applicable and may only hold in specific cases.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the conservation of force, with some suggesting that it may apply in limited scenarios while others argue against its general applicability. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the broader implications of force conservation.

Contextual Notes

Participants highlight the distinction between conservation principles for energy and force, indicating that the definitions and contexts of these concepts may influence their applicability.

scote620
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What is the relationship between force and energy?
 
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thanks for the help
 
one other thing...

i know that energy is conserved (the total amount in a closed system is constant), but why is it incorrect to say that force is conserved?
 
scote620 said:
one other thing...

i know that energy is conserved (the total amount in a closed system is constant), but why is it incorrect to say that force is conserved?

Usually when we say that something is conserved we mean that it is constant with respect to time. The total energy of a closed system is conserved because that level of energy never changes. There are certainly situations where force might be conserved (such as the weight of a book sitting on a table), but the types of cases where this would occur would be far too restrictive to put into a general theorem.

-Dan
 

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