Mechanics
In mechanics, conservation of energy is usually stated as
where T is kinetic and V potential energy.
For this particular form to be valid, the following must be true:
- The system is scleronomous (neither kinetic nor potential energy are explicit functions of time)
- The potential energy doesn't depend on velocities.
- The kinetic energy is a quadratic form with regard to velocities.
- The total energy E depends on the motion of the frame of reference (and it turns out that it is minimum for the center of mass frame).
Read more about this topic: Conservation Of Energy
Famous quotes containing the word mechanics:
“the moderate Aristotelian city
Of darning and the Eight-Fifteen, where Euclid’s geometry
And Newton’s mechanics would account for our experience,
And the kitchen table exists because I scrub it.”
—W.H. (Wystan Hugh)
“It is only the impossible that is possible for God. He has given over the possible to the mechanics of matter and the autonomy of his creatures.”
—Simone Weil (1909–1943)