Energy and Force relationship

Question

Is it right to think of Energy being what allows force(s) to happen? I know this is rather vague but is that a valid understanding?

Answer 1

No.

Force is the rate of transfer of momentum from one system to another.

Power is the rate of transfer of energy from one system to another.

So energy is what allows power to happen, not force. Of course, power and force are related by $P=\vec F \cdot \vec v$ where $\vec v$ is the velocity of the material at the point of application of the force $\vec F$.

Due to this relationship, it can be a bit muddy and you can certainly pick many examples where force and power coincide. Those examples may lead you to think that they always go together, but there are many counterexamples where a force transfers momentum without transferring energy. Basically anything where $\vec v=0$.

Answer 2

Energy(scalar quantity) is basically a capacity to do work or in layman's terms change some parameters of system like changing velocity, changing position, changing temperature, changing pressure etc.

Whereas Force(vector quantity) is quantity which is defined as change in momentum per unit time. $$\vec F=\frac{d\vec {p}}{dt}$$

We can apply force to change the energy quantity of system. For example, we apply force to body, and give it kinetic energy. We apply force to gas in piston and we increase its temperature or also increase kinetic energy of molecules. Whatever I discussed maybe no too rigorous but is a good enough analogy/intuition.

Hope it helps

Answer 3

Energy allows forces to perform work (act through a distance), because work is the transfer of energy. But energy is not required for a force to exist. An example is the force of gravity on an object at rest on your desk.

Hope this helps.

Answer 4

Is it right to think of Energy being what allows force(s) to happen ?

Definitely not, since one object can apply a force to another object without any change in energy of either object. You and the Earth are applying a force to each other but if you are standing still there is no change in energy.