Re: Work/Energy Theorem

[jmclean@chem.ucsd.edu (James Mclean)]

Jim Green says:
> OK, I see.  But let me probe how the *language* should be used: If a stick
> of dynamite at rest blows and stuff flies all about, are we as a group
> comfortable saying that no work was done?  I really don't have a firm
> position here.  How about the list???   Or a system of two particles
> connected by a compressed spring is freed???  No work???  [John, this is the
> reverse of your example A]  In Gene's example above,  no work??? Really???
> I will use any language agreed upon here, just tell me how to talk. (:-)

I think you have to specify what system you are calculating work for.  As
Dario pointed out, in the "push off from a wall" scenario work is done on
the rest of the body by the arm, even though no work is done on the body as
a whole.

This kind of thing is going to happen whenever potential energy is being
released:  is the potential energy internal or external to the system of
interest?

-- 
--James McLean
jmclean@chem.ucsd.edu
post doc
UCSD