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When the contraction of muscle tissue is applied in just the right way, a human is capable of generating forces that overcome the force of gravity exertedon an object and lift that object from the surface of the earth, or whatever is supporting it.
Conversion of chemical energy
A chemical explosion has the ability to convert chemical energy into force and cause large rocks to break their molecular bonds and shatter into small pieces, orto cause rockets to overcome the force of gravity and accelerate into outer space, leaving the effects of the earth's gravitational field behind.
Overcoming gravity
Much energy is expended in daily life to overcome the force of gravity. For example, chemical energy is converted to force to lift large steel beams high inthe air to build skyscrapers. Human caloric energy is converted to various forces to tote roofing shingles up a ladder onto a rooftop to make a house waterproof. Various types of energy are converted to various forces to lift water to irrigate crops. Chemical energy is converted to various forces to causeairplanes to fly. Thermal energy is converted to various forces to cause hot-air balloons to fly.
Converting kinetic energy to force
Various weather processes cause solar energy to be converted into kinetic energy in the form of moving air (wind). The blades on a windmill convert thatkinetic energy to forces that are used to pump water or to make electrical power.
When water moves from a high altitude to a lower altitude, potential energy is converted to kinetic energy. The blades on a water wheel or a turbine convertthat kinetic energy into forces that are used to grind grain or make electrical power.
Conversion of energy to force
With the possible exception of gravitational force, I can't think of any kind of force that doesn't result from the conversion of some form of energy. As anengineer, I strongly suspect that even gravitational force results from the conversion of energy at some level, although that conversion may take place atthe molecular or atomic level.
I will publish a module containing consolidated links to resources on my Connexions web page and will update and add to the list as additional modulesin this collection are published.
This section contains a variety of miscellaneous information.
Financial : Although the openstax CNX site makes it possible for you to download a PDF file for the collection that contains thismodule at no charge, and also makes it possible for you to purchase a pre-printed version of the PDF file, you should beaware that some of the HTML elements in this module may not translate well into PDF.
You also need to know that Prof. Baldwin receives no financial compensation from openstax CNX even if you purchase the PDF version of the collection.
In the past, unknown individuals have copied Prof. Baldwin's modules from cnx.org, converted them to Kindle books, and placed them for sale on Amazon.com showing Prof. Baldwin as the author.Prof. Baldwin neither receives compensation for those sales nor does he know who doesreceive compensation. If you purchase such a book, please be aware that it is a copy of a collection that is freelyavailable on openstax CNX and that it was made and published without the prior knowledge of Prof. Baldwin.
Affiliation : Prof. Baldwin is a professor of Computer Information Technology at Austin Community College in Austin, TX.
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