Question

Question #fe090

Answer 1

The two are clearly related (on a number of levels) and its good you’ve spotted that, but they are different.

Explanation:

We can describe that using algebra as `E = F xx d` where d is the distance moved in the direction of the force (later on it changes to include the angle between force and distance).

Equally we could say that fir es are what we notice when energy changes from one form to another (think of kinetic energy becoming heat energy due to the force of friction.)

Finally, and more technically correct, we could say that a force always acts on an unstable equilibrium in the direction of minimum energy.

Hope one of these explains what you were looking for!