We need to be able to show the connection between work and energy, but I can’t find it anywhere.
Asker: Stef , 14 years
Answer
Dear Stef
Work and energy are expressed in the same unit, namely joules. The relationship between work and energy can be understood as follows: to compress a spiral spring (eg made of steel wire) you have to exert yourself so exert force on the spring and thereby you perform mechanical work. This mechanical work is stored in the spring in the form of (elastic) energy. If you let the spring relax, the spring can perform reverse mechanical work. So: mechanical work can be converted into energy (in the case of the spring into elastic potential energy) and energy can be converted into work. OK?
Answered by
Prof Lambert Stals
Physics
Hasselt University
Agoralaan University Campus Building D BE-3590 Diepenbeek
http://www.uhasselt.be/
Agoralaan University Campus Building D BE-3590 Diepenbeek
http://www.uhasselt.be/
.