All Flashcards
What are the key differences between conservative and nonconservative forces?
Conservative: Path-independent, potential energy can be defined, total mechanical energy conserved. Nonconservative: Path-dependent, potential energy cannot be defined, total mechanical energy not conserved.
Compare and contrast kinetic and potential energy.
Kinetic: Energy of motion, depends on mass and velocity. Potential: Stored energy, depends on position or configuration (e.g., height or spring compression).
What's the difference between kinetic and potential energy?
Kinetic: energy of motion. Potential: stored energy due to position or configuration.
Conservative vs. Nonconservative Forces?
Conservative: Energy is converted back and forth. Nonconservative: Energy is dissipated as heat or sound.
Positive work vs. Negative work?
Positive work: adds energy to the system. Negative work: removes energy from the system.
What is the effect of nonconservative forces doing work on a system?
The total mechanical energy of the system changes; energy is often lost as heat or sound.
What happens when only conservative forces act on a system?
The total mechanical energy of the system is conserved.
What is the effect of friction on a moving object?
Friction does negative work, reducing the kinetic energy of the object and converting it to thermal energy.