WORK AND ENERGY

Work
Work is done whenever a force makes something move.
The greater the force and the greater the distance moved,
the more work is done.

The SI unit of work is the joule (J):

Work is calculated using this equation:
 Energy
Things have energy if they can be used to do work.
Like work, energy is measured in joules (J).

If, say, a compressed spring stores 100 joules of

energy, this is just a measurement of how much work
can be done by the spring.
 Forms of energy
Kinetic Energy
This is energy due to motion. All moving objects have
kineticenergy.
Potential Energy
This is energy which an object has because of its
changed position, shape, or state.
Gravitational potential energy
A stone held up in the air can do work when dropped
because gravity will pull it downwards.
Elastic potential energy (strain energy)
A stretched rubber band can do work when released, so
can a compressed spring
 Chemical potential energy
When a fuel burns, its energy is released by chemical
reactions. Batteries also store it. So do foods.
Electrical potential energy
In circuits, the current is a flow of tiny charged particles
called electrons. They have electrical potential energy and
they can transfer energy from a battery to a light bulb.
Nuclear potential energy
An atom has a nucleus at its centre. This is made up of
particles, held there by strong forces. In some atoms the
particles become rearranged, or the nucleus splits, and
energy is released
 Thermal Energy
When hot objects cool down, their atoms and
molecules slow down and lose energy. This is known as
thermal energy, or heat.
Radiated Energy
The Sun radiates light. Loudspeakers radiate sound.
Light and sound both travel in the form of waves. These
carry energy.
Energy Transformation
Conservation of energy
To do work, you have to spend energy. But, like
money, energy doesn't vanish when you spend it.
Energy just changes into different forms.
 Law of conservation of energy:

Energy cannot be made or destroyed, but it

can change from one form to another.
HW Pg 79 - 81