2.4 OTHER TOPICS

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Designing a system in terms of energy content can allow insights not easily obtained by the methods already discussed. Consider the equations in Figure 2.38. These equations show that the total energy in the system is the sum of kinetic and potential energy. Kinetic energy is half the product of mass times velocity squared. Potential energy in translating systems is a force magnitude multiplied by a distance (that force was applied over). In addition, the power, or energy transfer rate is the force applied multiplied by the velocity.

Figure 2.38 Energy and power equations for translating masses