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: $F_{x} = -\frac{dU(x)}{dx}$
How do you calculate the total potential energy of a multiple-object system?
Sum the potential energies of all pairs of interacting objects: $U_{total} = U_{12} + U_{13} + U_{23} + ...$
For a potential energy well graph, what points represents stable, unstable, and neutral equilibrium?
Stable equilibrium: Local minima (valleys) | Unstable equilibrium: Local maxima (peaks) | Neutral equilibrium: Flat regions
What is potential energy?
Stored energy within a system due to the positions of objects.
What are conservative forces?
Forces that allow a system to store energy; work done is path-independent.
What are non-conservative forces?
Forces that dissipate energy as heat, preventing the system from storing potential energy.
What is the spring constant (k)?
A measure of the stiffness of a spring.
What is gravitational field (g)?
The acceleration due to gravity, approximately 9.8 m/sยฒ on Earth.
Define displacement (ฮx) in the context of springs.
The distance a spring is stretched or compressed from its equilibrium length.
