Unit 5 Blog Reflection

       As we started Unit 5, the first thing we learned about work and power. We learned that force x time is known as an impulse and work can be defined as the effort on something that will change its energy. We learned about when doing work the force has to be parallel to the force opposing on it. For example, in class we represented this by having students run up and down the stairs of Mitchell timing how long it took them. Each student went in three different intervals of time, walking, running, and carrying a weight. We learned that it takes more force with the same amount of distance to do more work. We also learned how power was directly related. Power is the amount of work done over a time interval. and if the work is great and the time is little then more power is generated.

       The next topic we covered was the relationship between work and kinetic energy. These two concepts fall under the category of mechanical energy. Energy is the "something" that enables an object to do work. Energy is measured. Mechanical energy is the energy due to the position of something or the movement of something. And this is where Potential and Kinetic Energy fall under. Potential energy is the energy stored in an objects readiness. Kinetic energy is the energy of movement.


        The next thing we learned about was the conservation of energy. We learned that it is more important know how energy transforms than understanding what it is. We can represent this transfer of energy by stating the law of conservation of energy:  

           Energy cannot be created or destroyed; it may be transformed from one form into another, but the total amount of energy never changes. 

         We learned how this is directly related to mechanical energy when dealing with potential and kinetic energy. This problem is represented when we see that someone falling. Before they fall that have a greater potential energy and 0 kinetic energy because they are not moving. As they fall slowly, the potential energy is transferred into kinetic energy. and is eventually all transformed into kinetic.

       

        The last concept we covered directly relates to this energy transfer. However, this deals with the transfer of energy for machines. A machine is a device for multiplying force or simply changing the direction of force. This relates directly to the conservation of energy and efficiency. When a machine is in action we know that to figure out its efficiency is equal to the work in/ work out. Although some may think that when a machine does work that some energy is lost because no machine is 100%  efficient. Yet, all this means is that that energy that is "lost" is only transformed into other forms.



       During this Unit we cover some of the main topic that had caught my interest. Before going into Ms. Lawrence's conceptual physics class one of the main concepts that I wanted to cover was the concept of machine efficiency. I really enjoyed this unit and how it gave a brief taste of what there is more to offer in physics.