1. AP Physics C: Mechanics
Work & Energy

2. The ability of a physical system to cause change
What is Energy?
The ability of a physical system to cause change
What is its definition?
Energy can come in many forms and is transferrable. It is a conserved quantity in the universe.
What are its properties?
Chemical, electrical, nuclear, thermodynamic, light, mechanical, kinetic, potential, elastic, etc.
What forms can it be in?

4. Work (Energy) is a scalar quantity.
What is Work?
The amount of energy transferred by a force acting through a displacement
What is its definition?
Work (Energy) is a scalar quantity.
What are its properties?
How can it be calculated?
W=fscosθ

5. Work
The area under an Force-displacement graph

6. Work Work is an energy transfer.
If energy is added to the system then W is positive.
If energy is transferred from the system then W is negative.

7. Work
Work is a scalar.
The NET work on an object is the sum of the work done by each force acting on it.

8. Work Units of work 1 erg=10-7J System Unit Alternate name SI Nm
Joule (J)
cgs
dyne*cm
erg
English
foot*pound -
1 erg=10-7J

10. Work-Energy Theorem
The work done by a net force in displacing a particle equals the change in kinetic energy of the particle. Stress on the word particle. This is a drastic idealization.

11. Mechanical Potential Energy
Gravitational
Elastic

12. Conservation of Energy
This is always true, but mechanical energy is only conserved when only conservative forces are present.
Work done by a conservative force is path independent
Forces such as friction and air drag are non-conservative. They result in energy dissipated as heat.

13. What is it?

14. Power The time rate at which work is being done.
How do we calculate it?
If a net force acts on a particle and does work W over an interval of time Δt, then the average power is:

15. Power
The time rate of energy transfer.
Instantaneous Power

16. Power Watt are the units? 1hp=550ft*lbs/sec=746W
Note: A kilowatt-hour is often used by power companies. What is it a measure of?

17. Potential Energy and Conservative Forces
Potential energy is only associated with conservative forces. If an object or field does work on some external object, energy is transferred from the object or field to the external object:
The energy transferred as work decreases the potential energy of the system from which it came.

18. Potential Energy and Conservative Forces
The conservative force equals the negative (partial) derivative of the potential energy with respect to x.
The negative sign means that the final potential energy of the system is lower than the initial as the conservative force does work.

19. Potential Energy and Conservative Forces
Examples: