A.3 Work, Energy and Power Flashcards
Work Done
The product of displacement and the component of the force parallel to the displacement
Kinetic Energy
The active energy of a moving mass
Gravitational Potential Energy
The energy stored in a mass due to its position within a gravitational field
Mechanical Energy
The sum of kinetic and potential energies within a system, conserved in the absence of resistive forces
Joules
The unit of measurement for energy transferred and work done
Conservation of Mechanical Energy
In the absence of resistive forces, mechanical energy is always conserved within a system
Resistive Forces
Forces such as friction and drag that lead to the non-conservation of mechanical energy by converting some of it to thermal energy
Energy Transfer
The process by which energy moves from one store to another, such as from kinetic to potential energy or vice versa
Thermal Energy
Energy transferred to the surroundings as a result of resistive forces acting within a system
System
A set of interacting components considered in the analysis of energy transfer
Power
The rate of energy transfer, measured in watts
Efficiency
The ratio of useful energy output to total energy input, expressed as a percentage between 0% and 100%
Watts
The unit of measurement for power, representing the rate of work done or energy transferred per unit time
Useful Energy Output
The portion of energy input that is converted into the desired form of energy without being wasted
Total Energy Input
The total amount of energy supplied to a system, including both useful output and energy lost as waste
