Work, Energy & Simple Machines
This chapter delves into the fundamental concepts of energy, work, and simple machines, elucidating how these principles govern motion and efficiency in mechanical systems. By understanding kinetic and potential energy, along with the calculations involved, learners gain insights into the crucial role of energy transformations. Additionally, the chapter emphasizes the importance of efficiency and conservation of energy in machines, illustrating real-world implications for industries and the environment.
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Sections
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What we have learnt
- Energy is the ability to do work and can exist in various forms including kinetic, potential, thermal, and mechanical.
- Work is done when a force causes an object to move in the direction of the force, and power is the rate at which work is done.
- Simple machines provide mechanical advantage and efficiency is affected by factors such as friction and air resistance.
Key Concepts
- -- Kinetic Energy
- The energy an object possesses due to its motion, defined as KE = 1/2 * m * v².
- -- Potential Energy
- Stored energy based on an object's position, often illustrated by gravitational potential energy, calculated as GPE = m * g * h.
- -- Mechanical Advantage
- The factor by which a machine multiplies the force put into it, calculated as the ratio of output force to input force.
- -- Efficiency
- A measure of how much of the energy input is converted into useful work output, expressed as a percentage.
- -- Conservation of Energy
- The principle that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed from one form to another.
- -- Work
- The process of energy transfer when a force causes displacement, defined as W = F × d.
- -- Power
- The rate at which work is done or energy is transferred, defined as P = W / t.
Additional Learning Materials
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