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  1. Physics C: Mechanics (2025)
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What is the difference between Kinetic and Potential Energy?
Kinetic Energy: Energy of motion. | Potential Energy: Stored energy due to position or condition.
What is the difference between Conservative and Non-conservative forces?
Conservative Forces: Energy is converted between KE and PE without loss. | Non-conservative Forces: Energy is dissipated as thermal energy (e.g., friction).
Compare a system with constant total energy to one where energy is transferred.
Constant Total Energy: No energy enters or leaves the system; all conversions are internal. | Energy Transfer: Energy enters or leaves the system, changing the total energy.
Compare positive work and negative work.
Positive Work: Increases the total energy of the system. | Negative Work: Decreases the total energy of the system.
Compare mechanical energy in a frictionless system vs. a system with friction.
Frictionless System: Mechanical energy is conserved. | System with Friction: Mechanical energy is converted to thermal energy.
How to analyze energy conservation in a system?
1. Define the system. 2. Identify energy types. 3. Account for work done on/by the system. 4. Apply conservation of energy: $ME_i + W = ME_f$
Steps to solve conservation of energy problems?
1. Identify initial and final states. 2. Determine energy forms at each state. 3. Account for any work done. 4. Set up and solve the conservation of energy equation.
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).