Simulation · Physics · Class 11
Same ends, different paths
From the lesson Potential energy and conservative forces in Work, Energy and Power. Change the values and watch what happens.
Same ends, different pathsPhysics · Class 11
The idea behind it
NCERT § "The Concept of Potential Energy"
- Potential energy is energy stored by virtue of a body's position or configuration. It is defined only for conservative forces.
- A force is conservative if the work it does depends only on the start and end points, not on the path; equivalently, the work it does over any closed path is zero.
- Gravity near the earth's surface and the spring force are conservative. Friction and air drag are not, since the work they do depends on the path.
- For a conservative force in one dimension, F(x) = −dV/dx: the force points towards decreasing potential energy.
- Near the earth's surface the gravitational potential energy of a mass m at height h is V(h) = mgh, measured from a chosen zero level.
- Only changes in potential energy have physical meaning; the zero level can be chosen wherever convenient.
- Potential energy has the same unit as work and kinetic energy, the joule.