Re: Energy before work" (was work done by friction)

[paul o johnson <pojhome@FLASH.NET>]

Ludwik Kowalski wrote:

> Is it possible, and desirable, to introduce the concept of energy
> before the concept of work? Leigh goes one step further, if I
> understand him correctly, and suggests the total elimination of the
> concept of work.
>
> Traditionally, W=F*d, and energy, loosly speaking, is the "ability to
> do work" or (even more loosly) it is
> "the preserved work". Work is done on an ideal spring now and that
> spring does the same amount of work later. How could energy be
> introduced after the concept of work is eliminated?

Ludwik

Why not follow Feynman's lead: Energy is an abstract quantity that
cannot be measured, only calculated. When a force is exerted on an
object and the object is displaced, the value of this abstract quantity
for the object increases.

poj