Work

On the work of internal forces

Year: 2015

Type: article

Abstract: We discuss the role of the internal forces and how their work changes the energy of a system. We illustrate the contribution of the internal work to the variation of the system’s energy, using a pure mechanical example, a thermodynamical system and an example from electromagnetism. We emphasize that internal energy variations related to the work of the internal forces should be pinpointed in the classroom and placed on the same footing as other internal energy variations such as those caused by temperature changes or by chemical reactions.

Source: European Journal of Physics

DOI: 10.1088/0143-0807/36/4/045008

Authors: J Güémez, M Fiolhais, L Brito

Institutions: Universidad de Cantabria, Instituto de Física de Cantabria, Centro de Física da Universidade de Coimbra, University of Coimbra

Language: English

Topic: Educational Methods and Outcomes

Subfield: Education

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

Open Access status: green

OpenAlex ID: W1978680972

FWCI:

Cites: 14

Cited by: 2

Related to: 10