Question

Principal of minimum potential energy follows directly from the principal of ________

(a) Elastic energy

(b) Virtual work energy

(c) Kinetic energy

(d) Potential energy

The question was asked in homework.

I want to ask this question from One Dimensional Problems topic in division One Dimensional Problems of Finite Element Method

Answer 1

Right answer is (b) Virtual work energy

To elaborate: The total potential energy of an elastic body is defined as sum of total strain energy and the work potential energy. Therefore the principal of minimum potential energy follows directly the principal of virtual work energy.