All Flashcards
What is potential energy?
Stored energy within a system due to the positions of its components.
What is a conservative force?
A force where the work done is independent of the path taken.
What is a non-conservative force?
A force that dissipates energy as heat and does not have an associated potential energy.
What is stable equilibrium?
A state where, if you nudge the system, it returns to its original position; corresponds to a local minimum on the potential energy curve.
What is unstable equilibrium?
A state where, if you nudge the system, it moves away from its original position; corresponds to a local maximum on the potential energy curve.
Define gravitational potential energy near Earth's surface.
The potential energy an object has due to its height above a reference point, given by the formula:
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.
Given a potential energy diagram with a local minimum, what type of equilibrium is represented at that point?
Stable Equilibrium
Given a potential energy diagram with a local maximum, what type of equilibrium is represented at that point?
Unstable Equilibrium