This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.
Both sides previous revision Previous revision Next revision | Previous revision Next revisionBoth sides next revision |
183_notes:grav_and_spring_pe [2014/10/10 17:53] – [Conservative Forces] caballero | 183_notes:grav_and_spring_pe [2014/10/14 13:20] – [Examples] caballero |
---|
===== Types of Potential Energy ===== | ===== Types of Potential Energy ===== |
| |
<wrap todo>Add a bit of intro</wrap> | [[183_notes:potential_energy|Potential energy]] is the energy associated with interactions between pairs of objects. In these notes, you will read about two particular types of potential energy: the energy associated with the gravitational interaction and the energy associated with a spring-mass system. |
| |
==== (Near Earth) Gravitational Potential Energy ==== | ==== (Near Earth) Gravitational Potential Energy ==== |
==== Conservative Forces ==== | ==== Conservative Forces ==== |
| |
Both of the examples above (local gravitational force and spring force) are examples of [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conservative_force|conservative forces]]. Conservative forces are those for which we can associate a potential energy. The energy associated with conservative forces does not depend on the path that the objects take but only their separation. That is, for conservative forces, only the initial and final locations of the objects matter not the path they took to get from one place to another. Forces that only depend on position tend to be conservative ((We say "tend to" because there is an additional condition that the force have [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curl_(mathematics)|no curl]].)). | Both of the examples above (local gravitational force and spring force) are examples of [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conservative_force|conservative forces]]. Conservative forces are those for which we can associate a potential energy. The energy associated with conservative forces does not depend on the path that the objects take but only their separation. That is, for conservative forces, only the initial and final locations of the objects matter not the path they took to get from one place to another. Forces that only depend on position tend to be conservative.((We say "tend to" because there is an additional condition that the force have [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curl_(mathematics)|no curl]].)) |
| |
Dissipative forces such as friction and air drag are non-conservative forces. The path that an object takes matters very much when non-conservative forces are present. Moreover, these dissipative forces cannot be associated with any construct like potential energy. | Dissipative forces such as friction and air drag are non-conservative forces. The path that an object takes matters very much when non-conservative forces are present. Moreover, these dissipative forces cannot be associated with any construct like potential energy. |
| |
| ==== Examples ==== |
| |
| [[183_notes:examples:sledding|Sledding down a hill]] |
| [[183_notes:examples:the_jumper|The Jumper]] |