1_Energy Flashcards
What is energy?
The ability to do work.
‘Work’ formula
Force * Distance (J)
Two types of energy
Kinetic energy and potential energy.
Kinetic energy
The energy of an object derived from its motion.
Potential energy
The energy an object has due to its position in its field.
Gravitational potential energy
The energy an object has due to its position in its gravitational field.
Chemical potential energy
Energy that exists within the chemical bonds of a molecule.
Four fundamental forces
1) Gravitational force 2) Electromagnetic force 3) Strong nuclear force 4) Weak nuclear force
Gravitational force
A force that attracts anything with a mass.
Electromagnetic force
A force that attracts opposite charges and repels like charges.
Strong nuclear force
The nuclear binding force. It attracts protons and neutrons to each other.
Weak nuclear force
The force responsible for the decay of big quarks and lepons into smaller ones.
Reductionism
The study of how one system relates to another.
Thermodynamics
Modelling the large-scale processes of a system.
Statistical thermodynamics
Modelling the average activity of the system.
