How Do Work-Energy Principles Apply When Potential Energy Changes?

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In summary, equation (1) is always correct as long as all forces are taken into account, and equation (2) is not always smaller than Wnet and Wnc is not always zero when Wnet is zero. An example of this is a block sliding down an incline with friction.
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henry3369
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(1) Wnet = ΔK
(2) Wnc = ΔE

1. Is equation (1) always correct even if the potential energy of the object is also changing? A
2. Is equation (2) always going to have a small value than Wnet? And is Wnc always 0 if Wnet is zero?
 
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henry3369 said:
1. Is equation (1) always correct even if the potential energy of the object is also changing?
Yes, as long as you include the work done by ALL forces acting. This is the so-called "work-energy" theorem. (There are some subtleties, which I won't confuse you with.)

henry3369 said:
2. Is equation (2) always going to have a small value than Wnet?
No.

henry3369 said:
And is Wnc always 0 if Wnet is zero?
No.

Example: Imagine a block sliding down an incline at constant speed. (Friction is obviously acting.) The net work including all forces will be zero. But the work done by friction (the non-conservative force in this example) will not be zero.
 

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