All Flashcards
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:
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 calculate total potential energy in a system with multiple objects?
- Identify all pairs of objects. 2. Calculate the potential energy for each pair. 3. Add up all the potential energy contributions.