... the amount of work that the body can as it falls towards the Earth under the pull of gravity. Potential energy, like kinetic, can be used to do useful work. In a hydroelectric generating static for instance, water falls from a higher level to a lower one and does work the turbines. Strain energy When a force is applied to a structure and causes it to distort, the point of application of the force is changed and work is done. This can be stored ii structure as strain energy or resilience (see section 8.11). If the force is removed this energy may be recovered and converted to other forms. In the operation of a mechanical pinball machine, for instance, strain energy is stored in the spring and then released in the form of kinetic energy or potential energy of the ball. Heat All substances consist of molecules, which are in motion, and between which ...

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