Answer to Question #188656 in Physics for Melissa

Question

Explain the following:

• The nature of work, energy, KE, PE and power.

• The types of kinetic and potential energy, which contribute to the internal energy of a gas.

Answer 1

1. Work is the amount of energy required to change the energy of a system.

Energy is the property of a body to perform work.

KE is kinetic energy, the energy that a body has due to its motion.

PE is potential energy, the energy defined by the location of one body relative to other bodies.

Power is a quantity that defines how quickly work can be done.

2. The internal energy of gas consists of kinetic energy of translational, rotational, and vibrational motion, and potential energy of intermolecular forces.