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In physics, what is the difference between force and energy?
I already know the mathematical difference. I know that f=ma and E=fd. The math part is easy to understand, quantify, and apply. I'm just trying to intuitively seperate the two concepts in my mind. While this is easy to do in the context of mathematics, my mind has trouble wrapping itself around the actual, physical, real world differences.
So, without using math, can someone explain to me what each of these things are, what the difference between them is, and how they relate to one another? Explain it as if you were explaining it to someone who knew nothing about physics, like a cave man.
By the way, I know that energy is the same as work, and that energy is just force acting over a distance. What doesn't make sense to me is 1) that if force produces acceleration, doesn't that by definition mean that it acts over a distance? And 2) what about a force acting on an object and holding it in place, like ,say, a solid floor keeping a person from falling downwards into the basement. Even though gravity is acting on the person, and the person in turn is acting on the floor in the same direction, the floor pushes back with equal force thus preventing the person from falling through. Or at least that is how it was explained to me. But since there is no motion, does this mean that this all occurs without energy? Can force exist without energy? Can energy exist without force? Am I totally misunderstanding the entire thing like an idiot?
2 Answers
- 7 years agoFavorite Answer
Force is part of energy, just like your heart is part of being you. When you see things around you, all of it are acted by forces in nature. And all of it are energy as well. As what Einstein's said, "mass is equivalent to Energy". Work is just one form of energy. When you push the wall, and the wall stays, it means you have done no work, but you exert so much energy because you apply force to it. You sweat, you feel heat in your arm, you shout, your body changes and other. This is what is called transformation of energy from one form to the other. Should you have put wheels on the wall, and the wall moves, the energy should have been conserved by the movement of the wall.
Hope this help
- 7 years ago
If I would have to explain to a complete layman, I would ask him to imagine that energy is akin to lot of coins you have in your pocket. For 'doing' anything,(which is akin to doing a work or applying a force to move an object), you have to 'spend' a coin. But if you have coins in your pocket, they amount to lot of money but no spending or 'doing' anything.
A person standing on the floor contains potential energy because of his position, since he is standing at a place where gravity pulls him downwards, means it applies a force, but since due to equal upwards reaction of the floor there is no movement and hence no expenditure of energy.
