All Flashcards
What are the key differences between conservative and non-conservative forces?
Conservative Forces: Work done is path-independent, net work in a closed loop is zero, potential energy can be defined. Non-Conservative Forces: Work done is path-dependent, net work in a closed loop is non-zero, potential energy cannot be defined.
Compare gravitational potential energy near Earth's surface and for point masses.
Near Earth's Surface: , valid for small changes in height. Point Masses: , valid for any separation distance, uses a zero point at infinite separation.
Differentiate between stable and unstable equilibrium points on a potential energy curve.
Stable Equilibrium: Local minimum, system returns to equilibrium after a small disturbance, concave up. Unstable Equilibrium: Local maximum, system moves away from equilibrium after a small disturbance, concave down.
What is potential energy?
Stored energy within a system due to the positions of its components.
What is a conservative force?
A force where the work done is independent of the path taken.
What is a non-conservative force?
A force that dissipates energy as heat and does not have an associated potential energy.
What is stable equilibrium?
A state where, if you nudge the system, it returns to its original position; corresponds to a local minimum on the potential energy curve.
What is unstable equilibrium?
A state where, if you nudge the system, it moves away from its original position; corresponds to a local maximum on the potential energy curve.
Define gravitational potential energy near Earth's surface.
The potential energy an object has due to its height above a reference point, given by the formula:
How do you determine the force from a potential energy graph?
The conservative force in one dimension is the negative slope of the potential energy curve:
How do you calculate the total potential energy of a multiple-object system?
Sum the potential energies of all pairs of interacting objects: