L12: Work and Potential Energy

Now that we have described motion (kinematics) and explained changes in motion (dynamics), we are now ready to investigate the concepts of energy and the transfer of energy (work). These concepts are of fundamental importance in physics. Indeed, one could argue that physics could be defined as the study of energy, which would necessarily include the study of the transfer of energy.  These concepts lead us directly to the related topics of work and potential energy, which are the topics of this lecture.