Differences
This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.
Both sides previous revision Previous revision Next revision | Previous revision | ||
183_notes:potential_energy [2015/10/06 11:07] – [Potential Energy Depends on Separation NOT Location] caballero | 183_notes:potential_energy [2021/03/12 02:43] (current) – [What is potential energy?] stumptyl | ||
---|---|---|---|
Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
+ | Section 6.7 in Matter and Interactions (4th edition) | ||
+ | |||
===== Potential Energy ===== | ===== Potential Energy ===== | ||
- | For multi-particles systems, you will have to keep track of the energy changes associated with the internal forces. That is, the work done by objects in the system on other objects in the system. As you will read, we can often associate an energy with pairs of interacting of objects, which we call " | + | For multi-particles systems, you will have to keep track of the energy changes associated with the internal forces. That is, the work done by objects in the system on other objects in the system. As you will read, we can often associate an energy with pairs of interacting of objects, which we call " |
+ | ** | ||
==== Lecture Video ==== | ==== Lecture Video ==== | ||
Line 8: | Line 10: | ||
==== What is potential energy? ==== | ==== What is potential energy? ==== | ||
- | Potential energy is energy associated with pairs of objects that interact with each other within a system. Because potential energy exists between pairs of objects, no single object can have potential energy, it is a multi-particle system that has potential energy. It's referred to as potential energy because it can be converted to other forms of energy. Common examples of systems with potential energy include stretched/ | + | __**Potential energy |
==== Formal definition of Potential Energy ==== | ==== Formal definition of Potential Energy ==== | ||
Line 79: | Line 81: | ||
$$\Delta\vec{r}_2 - \Delta\vec{r}_1 = \left(\vec{r}_{2, | $$\Delta\vec{r}_2 - \Delta\vec{r}_1 = \left(\vec{r}_{2, | ||
- | This is precisely the vector that tracks the change in separation between the two objects. | + | This is precisely the vector that tracks the change in separation between the two objects, $\Delta \vec{r}$. |
- | $$\Delta U = -\vec{f}_{2, | + | $$\Delta U = -\vec{f}_{2, |
From this you can conclude that any change in potential energy is associated with a change in the shape of a system. For rigid systems, the potential energy is constant. | From this you can conclude that any change in potential energy is associated with a change in the shape of a system. For rigid systems, the potential energy is constant. |