ABSTRACT
In this chapter, we consider energy methods with a focus on the work-energy principle. Energy methods are very convenient for a broad class of systems — particularly those with relatively simple geometrics and those for which limited information is desired. Energy methods, like impulse-momentum principles, are formulated in terms of velocities, thus avoiding the computation of accelerations as is required with Newton’s laws and d’Alembert’s principle. But, unlike the impulse-momentum principles, energy methods are formulated in terms of scalars. By thus avoiding vector operations, energy methods generally involve simpler analyses. The information gained, however, may be somewhat limited because often only one equation is obtained with the work-energy method.
