All Flashcards
What is the effect of positive work done by a conservative force on potential energy?
It decreases potential energy.
What is the effect of negative work done by a conservative force on potential energy?
It increases potential energy.
What happens when a spring is compressed or stretched from its equilibrium position?
Elastic potential energy is stored in the spring, given by
What is the effect of increasing the separation between two masses on their gravitational potential energy?
The gravitational potential energy becomes less negative (increases), approaching zero as separation approaches infinity.
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:
How do you calculate the total potential energy of a multiple-object system?
Sum the potential energies of all pairs of interacting objects:
What is the effect of positive work done by a conservative force?
Decreases potential energy.
What is the effect of negative work done by a conservative force?
Increases potential energy.
What is the effect of steeper slopes on a potential energy graph?
Larger forces.
What is the effect of flat regions on a potential energy graph?
Zero force.
What is the effect of compressing a spring?
It stores elastic potential energy.