Editing Virtual work (section)

{{short description|Work done by a force to move a particle along a virtual displacement}}
{{About|the principle in mechanics|the work arrangement|remote work}}
{{Classical mechanics|cTopic=Fundamental concepts}}

In [[mechanics]], '''virtual work''' arises in the application of the ''[[Stationary-action principle|principle of least action]]'' to the study of [[forces]] and [[Motion|movement]] of a [[mechanical system]].  The [[Work (physics)|work]] of a force acting on a particle as it moves along a [[Displacement (geometry)|displacement]] is different for different displacements.  Among all the possible displacements that a particle may follow, called [[virtual displacement]]s, one will minimize the [[Action (physics)|action]]. This displacement is therefore the displacement followed by the particle according to the principle of least action.  <blockquote>The work of a force on a particle along a virtual displacement is known as the virtual work.</blockquote>

Historically, virtual work and the associated [[calculus of variations]] were formulated to analyze systems of rigid bodies,<ref name=Lanczos>[https://books.google.com/books?id=ZWoYYr8wk2IC C. Lánczos, The Variational Principles of Mechanics, 4th Ed., General Publishing Co., Canada, 1970]</ref> but they have also been developed for the study of the mechanics of deformable bodies.<ref>Dym, C. L. and I. H. Shames, ''Solid Mechanics: A Variational Approach'', McGraw-Hill, 1973.</ref>