Internal Energy

Claimed by Michelle McIntire M06

Main Idea

Internal Energy, as referred to in Intro Physics, is energy within a system. When determining the specifics of internal energy it is best to refer to the real system of the interaction, rather than the point-particle system. The system may consist of internal interactions, such as spring interactions and thermal energy transfer. Internal Energy is any energy in the system other than movement of the center of mass.

Internal Energy is fundamentally Potential Energy, Kinetic Energy, and Rest Energy. Broken down, this includes but is not limited to:

Vibrational Energy: The potential energy of macroscopic springs cannot be modeled as a point particle system, and is often used to represent bonds between atoms in different materials.

Thermal Energy: Thermal Energy is any energy in the form of heat, or changes in energy from heat transfer.

Rotational Energy: Rotational energy is energy of real system about the center of mass.

Chemical Energy: When a person runs, the change in kinetic energy of the runner is often affiliated with a loss in chemical energy.

A Mathematical Model

Determining change in Internal Energy from Change in Kinetic Energy.

Einternal= Ethermal+Erotational+Evibrational+Echemical+...

Because Energy is conserved if change in total Energy is 0, then:

KEi + Einternal= KEf + Einternal

Thus,

Change in Einternal = -Change inKE

A Computational Model

You can use a computational model to track Kinetic Energy of the point-particle system. Using the change in this Kinetic Energy and the Change in Energy due to the surroundings we can determine the change in Internal Energy of a system.

How do we visualize or predict using this topic. Consider embedding some vpython code here Teach hands-on with GlowScript

Examples

Simple

You're pulling a block of mass 20kg across a low-friction floor. While pulling the block you notice the speed of the block has changed from 8m/s to 15 m/s. What was the change in your internal energy over this period of time?

1) Diagram. 2)Pick your system. (The block). The change in overall energy of the block is equal to the change in kinetic energy: KEf-KEi

Change in KE= 1/2*20kg*(15^2-8^2)=1610 Joules

3)Now consider your system to be you, the earth, and the block. Are there any outside forces acting on the system? No. Thus, Change in total energy must be 0.

4)Total Energy= KE+ PE(grav) + Einternal. Since PE(grav) is 0 throughout the interaction and change in total energy is 0, negative change in KE must be equal to your change in internal energy.

Change in your Internal Energy (assuming high efficiency and no energy lost to surroundings) = 1610 Joules

Difficult

(THIS IS NOT AT ALL PHYSICALLY ACCURATE) Assume you are stranded on an island. You have built a raft with the last of your energy. You have one coconuts that will give you an estimated 200 calories of energy. (A calorie is roughly 4.2*10^3 Joules). You have started moving your 200kg raft across the low-friction sand with inital velocity 2m/s. You have calculated that in order to escape the incoming tide, your raft must be travelling at least 12m/s when it reaches the ocean. You have then calculated it will take at least 150 calories to survive the trip, and another 45 to keep your friend Wilson from drifting away during the trip (no sleeping). Do you have enough energy to save Wilson? Do you have enough energy to save yourself?

Note:Calories is representative of Chemical Energy, and thus find the minimum change in internal energy required to move the raft to solve this problem.

1)Diagram

2)The Internal Energy required to move the raft (as in example 1) Is equal to the Change in Kinetic Energy.

Change in KE = 1/2(200kg)*(vf^2-vi^2)= 1/2*200*(15^2-2^2) Required Internal Energy = 22,100J

3) Determine the Energy supplied by one coconut after taking away the calories needed to survive the trip. 200 calories- 150 calories to survive - 45 calories for wilson = 5 calories

5 calories/coconut x 4.2*10^3 Joules/calorie = 21,000 Joules/coconut

Unfortunately you have enough energy to save yourself, but your friend Wilson is doomed to travel the seas forever.

Connectedness

1. How is this topic connected to something that you are interested in?

Internal Energy is connected to your everyday life. It fundamentally explains why one must eat (chemical energy) to move (kinetic energy). Internal Energy also describes energy dissipation, and thus is key to solving the Energy crisis.

1. How is it connected to your major?

Internal Energy is extremely important to Mechanical Engineering. It explains the different manners and ways that energy can be stored within a system, and later utilized for Kinetic Energy.

1. Is there an interesting industrial application?

Using our understanding of Internal Energy, we can minimize Energy dissipation, create better longer lasting batteries, create machines that require less power that can store more energy. Applying our understanding of Internal Energy is our best chance at creating something close to perpetual motion, and maximizing energy output of our systems.

History

Many scientists have contributed to our understanding of Internal Energy. From James Joule's work on thermal energy, to Albert Einstein's famous equation for rest energy.

See also

Are there related topics or categories in this wiki resource for the curious reader to explore? How does this topic fit into that context?

Further reading

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External links

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References

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