Work and change in kinetic energy

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

This discussion revolves around the relationship between work, kinetic energy, and potential energy, particularly in the context of falling objects and lifting scenarios. Participants explore concepts related to net work, external work, and the roles of conservative and non-conservative forces.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses confusion about how to calculate work done on an object that has both kinetic and potential energy, particularly in the case of a falling object.
  • Another participant questions whether external work is equivalent to the change in potential energy and how this relates to net work.
  • Some participants clarify that the net work done by all forces equals the change in kinetic energy, and they discuss the distinction between conservative and non-conservative forces.
  • There is mention of the relationship between work done by conservative forces and changes in potential energy, with some participants noting that the work done by gravity is negative relative to the change in potential energy.
  • Participants discuss the implications of having no non-conservative forces in a system and whether net work can be expressed in terms of changes in kinetic or potential energy.
  • There is a suggestion to visualize the problem with a diagram showing different states of energy for a falling object, indicating how potential energy converts to kinetic energy.
  • Questions arise about the definition of external forces and how they affect the energy changes in a system, particularly in relation to conservation of energy principles.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus, as there are multiple competing views regarding the definitions and relationships between work, kinetic energy, and potential energy. The discussion remains unresolved with ongoing questions and clarifications needed.

Contextual Notes

Some participants express uncertainty about the definitions of external work and how it relates to changes in potential energy and net work. There are also unresolved questions about the role of external forces and their impact on energy changes in different scenarios.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be useful for students and individuals studying mechanics, particularly those grappling with the concepts of work, energy, and the interplay between kinetic and potential energy in various physical scenarios.

MIA6
Messages
231
Reaction score
0
I know that the net work = the change in kinetic energy, delta KE. But what if the object has both the potential energy and kinetic energy, for example, a falling object, then how can I find out the work done on the object at a particular point? Still the change in KE ignore PE?
Also, I know the external work = the change in potential enery, delta PE. It happens in a lifting a brick, but Is that the net work? What's the difference? In addition, work done by gravity= -delta PE. If I am asked to find out the net work, should I plus together the external work and work done by gravity? In this lifting case, is there a kinetic energy? Can I find out the net work by using change in KE? I am confused with some concepts, hope you can help. thanks.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
what problem is this for?
 
no. there is no problem for this. I am just asking since I read the concepts in the book, but I have confusion.
 
The net work done by all forces acting on an object equals the change in the object's kinetic energy:

W_{net} = \Delta KE

Forces can be either conservative (that is, they have a potential energy associated with them) or non-conservative (that is, they don't have a potential energy associated with them). Therefore we can split the net work done by all forces into two parts correspondingly:

W_{net}^{(c)} + W_{net}^{(nc)} = \Delta KE

The work done by a conservative force equals the negative of the change in the potential energy associated with that force. (This is the definition of potential energy.) Adding up the effects of all the conservative forces:

W_{net}^{(c)} = - \Delta PE

Therefore the net work done by the non-conservative forces equals the change in the object's mechanical energy (sum of kinetic and potential energies):

W_{net}^{(nc)} = \Delta (KE+PE)
 
jtbell said:
The net work done by all forces acting on an object equals the change in the object's kinetic energy:

W_{net} = \Delta KE

Forces can be either conservative (that is, they have a potential energy associated with them) or non-conservative (that is, they don't have a potential energy associated with them). Therefore we can split the net work done by all forces into two parts correspondingly:

W_{net}^{(c)} + W_{net}^{(nc)} = \Delta KE

The work done by a conservative force equals the negative of the change in the potential energy associated with that force. (This is the definition of potential energy.) Adding up the effects of all the conservative forces:

W_{net}^{(c)} = - \Delta PE

Therefore the net work done by the non-conservative forces equals the change in the object's mechanical energy (sum of kinetic and potential energies):

W_{net}^{(nc)} = \Delta (KE+PE)

thanks. If there is no non-conservative force in the system, then Wcnet=delta KE, then since Wcnet=-deltaPE, so now -deltaPE=delataKE? Either one works for the net work? Btw, as I said before, external work = the change in potential enery, delta PE. In addition, work done by gravity= -delta PE. One is positive delta PE, the other one is negative delta PE, why here Wcnet=-PE? Why we want the negative PE, but the positive one? because we want gravitational potential energy? acted by gravity?
 
Wexternal=delta PE, Wgravity=-delta PE. On my book, it says the change in potential energy associated with a particular force is equal to the negative of the work done by that force if the object is moved from one point to a second point. I think it indicates Wgravity=-deltaPE, but why must a change in potential energy relates to negative work done by a force not a positive work as in the external force's case?
 
MIA6 said:
I know that the net work = the change in kinetic energy, delta KE. But what if the object has both the potential energy and kinetic energy, for example, a falling object, then how can I find out the work done on the object at a particular point? Still the change in KE ignore PE?
Also, I know the external work = the change in potential enery, delta PE. It happens in a lifting a brick, but Is that the net work? What's the difference? In addition, work done by gravity= -delta PE. If I am asked to find out the net work, should I plus together the external work and work done by gravity? In this lifting case, is there a kinetic energy? Can I find out the net work by using change in KE? I am confused with some concepts, hope you can help. thanks.

You can draw a diagram showing 3 states - initial, falling and final. In the initial state, the object has maximum PE and zero KE since it's stationary. When it's in the falling state, maximum PE is slowly being converted into some KE. In the final state, assume the object stops upon hitting the ground, then all of its PE is converted into maximum KE just before it hits the ground.
 
thiotimoline said:
You can draw a diagram showing 3 states - initial, falling and final. In the initial state, the object has maximum PE and zero KE since it's stationary. When it's in the falling state, maximum PE is slowly being converted into some KE. In the final state, assume the object stops upon hitting the ground, then all of its PE is converted into maximum KE just before it hits the ground.

I know. BUt how do you find the Net work/total work? Use delta KE? BTw, in the example that you were talking about, is there any work done by external force? like what does it really mean by external force? ex. a spring connected to a block, find the work done on the block. Then is there an external force? Why the block's energy changes so that I can not use the conservation of energy? I am seriously confused with external work delta PE or the work done by gravity -delta PE and net work?
 
Last edited:

Similar threads

  • · Replies 54 ·
2
Replies
54
Views
7K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
2K
  • · Replies 77 ·
3
Replies
77
Views
6K
  • · Replies 33 ·
2
Replies
33
Views
4K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
2K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
4K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
1K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
1K
  • · Replies 14 ·
Replies
14
Views
3K