Work, Energy and Forces

Physics D completed their lab investigation on energy and energy conversions and we'll pick up with our discussion of energy in class tomorrow. As we move through discussing energy forms and the conservation of energy, keep you lab investigation in mind and how our class discussion helps to explain your patter of results - there's the basis for your conclusion section.

Physics F discussed the topic of work in class today and began with defining 'work' in the scientific sense. We then looked at examples where forces are and are not doing work, how work is calculated and the difference between positive and negative work. Tomorrow, we'll start on our discussion of energy and how it and work are connected. We'll start with kinetic energy and the work-kinetic energy theorem, before moving to the energies of position - gravitational potential and elastic potential.

Honors Physics reviewed their homework for topics associated with work and then took on kinetic energy and the work-kinetic energy theorem. As the velocity of an object changes, that indicates acceleration, which further indicates a force acting on the object. With a force acting and the object covering a distance, we can assess the work done in the situation. As the velocity changes, so does the kinetic energy and the change of the object's kinetic energy will be equal to the work done on or by the object. A velocity decreases (-ΔKE)indicates negative work done in the situation and a velocity increase (+ΔKE) indicates positive work. We'll go over your homework problems tomorrow before taking on gravitational and elastic potential energies.

Intro Physics reviewed their homework questions and basics of pressure before looking in more depth at pressure and hydraulics. We talked about the mathematical strategies for solving hydraulics problems, then started to practice with pressure and hydraulics problems. Tomorrow's lab will look at pressure in a different light (how does fluid pressure vary with depth) and we'll return to these problems on Monday.