Forest UCM Energy PE n ConsForces

Potential Energy and Conservative Forces

Conservative Forces

What is a conservative Force?

Two conditions are neccessary for a Force to be conservative.

1. The force on depends on the objects position (F = F(r)). Not on time nor velocity
2. The work done by the force in displacing the object between two points is independent of the path taken.

Examples of conservative forces

[math]\vec F = k\vec r[/math]

[math]\vec F = G \frac{m_1 m_2}{r^3} \vec r[/math]

[math]\vec F = q \vec E[/math]

Examples of Non Conservaive Forces

[math]\vec F = -bv -cv^2[/math]

[math]\vec{F} = q \vec v \times \vec B[/math]

Potential Energy

If ALL External forces are conservative

Then a potential energy U(r) may be defined such that the total energy of the system is constant (conserved)

[math]E_{tot} = T + U(r) =[/math] constant

where

[math]U(r) \equiv -\int_{r_o}^r \vec{F}(r) \cdot d\vec{}r[/math]

and

[math]r_0 =[/math] an arbitrary reference point where the potential is often chosen to be zero

It is not necessary to define the potential as zero at [math]r_0[/math]

remember

Positive Work INcreases the kinetic energy (T) but DEcreases the Potential energy (U)

Negative Work DEcreases the kinetic energy (T) but INcreases the Potential energy (U)

Thus the conservation of mechanical enegy becomes

[math]E_{tot} = T + U(r) =[/math] constant

Forest_UCM_Energy#PE_.26_Conservative_Force