Re: definition of energy (without work?)

[Joel Rauber <Joel_Rauber@SDSTATE.EDU>]

Allow me to play the role of the devil's advocate for a moment.


> Why wait?  Why not grab _The Feynman Lectures on Physics_ and
> read volume I
> chapter 4.
>
> Feynman is quite up-front about the appeal to experiment;
> see for example
> the middle paragraph on page 4-4.

I quote from page 4-4:

" . . . The general name of energy which has to do with location relative to
something else is called *potential energy*.  In this particular case, of
course, we call it *gravitational potential energy*. If it is a question of
electrical forces against which *we are working* [emphasis here is mine] . .
."

Has Feynman introduced energy without the work concept? Or has he really
implicitly been thinking of the work concept all along while discussing
potential energy?

Joel