Work, Energy and the 1st Law for a

Point Mass
• Work
• Kinetic Energy
• Potential Energy
• 1st Law for a Point Mass
• Properties, Processes and State
 Newton’s Law and the Mechanical
Concept of Work and Energy
• Consider Newton’s Law for a point mass
 
 dv
F = ma = m
dt

• If we multiple by dx and integrate we obtain
x2
  x2  V2
dv   
∫x Fidx = x∫ m dt idx = V∫ mvidv
1 1 1
 Work
• We identify the left hand term as Work

The integral we evaluated to obtain the work is a path

integral and depends on the form of F(x) thus work is
process.

Work is force acting through a distance.

 Kinetic Energy
• The right hand term becomes

V2 V2 2 2
  2 # v 2 v1
&
∫V mvidv = V∫ md(v / 2) = m %$ 2 − 2 ('
1 1

• We call mv2/2 the Kinetic Energy

The integral we evaluated to obtain the change in energy

is an ordinary integral and md(v2/2) is an exact differential
and thus kinetic energy is a property.
 Gravitational Forces
FL
• It will be useful to
consider the effect of z
the weight of gravity
• The force to lift an
W
object in a
gravitational field   
FL − W = ma
(We typically align the z axis with the vertical direction.)
(Don’t confuse W12 work, with W weight.)
 Weight
• “A rose by any other name would smell as
sweet” from Romeo and Juliet.

• “Weight is a force, is a force, is a FORCE!”

W = mg

• g is the acceleration of gravity.

 Including Gravity
As before:
z2 V2

∫ (FL − W )dz = ∫ md v(2

/2 )
z1 V1

Then

2 2
W12 − W (z2 − z1 ) = m(v / 2 − v / 2)
2 1

We identify mgz as the Potential Energy.

d(mgz) = mgdz is an exact differential, and thus
potential energy is a property.
 1st Law of Thermodynamics
for a Point Mass
• We can thus write our relationship as

or

• LHS is change in properties, RHS is

process.

Change in KE + Change in PE = Work

 Properties and Processes
• Properties describe the state of a system at a
specific time and place.
• Processes describe those actions that result
in a change of properties.
• The state of a system is described by the
values of its properties.
 Properties and Processes
• Examples of properties are mass, density,
energy, pressure and temperature, and
kinetic and potential energy
• Examples of processes are work and heat
transfer