Thread: Work = energy?
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Old February 16th 08 posted to sci.physics
Androcles[_7_]
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Default Work = energy?


"Peter" wrote in message
...
| Hi! Is it correct to say that work is a form of energy? At least that
| is what the work-energy theorem seems to assert.

Energy is the ability to do work. Naturally it has the same units.
If you lift a book onto a shelf then you have used energy to do
so, but you have also given the book the potential energy to
fall from the shelf and break your toe, thus doing work on your
foot. To do the work requires the book to convert its potential
energy to kinetic energy. Like money, energy is passed around
and can be converted to small change or accumulated - you
can add one more straw to the camel's back and break it.







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