There is a deep connection between force and potential energy. This relationship has a useful graphical representation that will help us better understand the spring-mass potential energy and, in Chapter 3, the potential energy associated with the bonding between atoms.

In physics, potential energy is the energy of an object or system due to the body's position relative to other objects, or the configuration of its particles. The energy is equal to the work done against any restoring forces, such as gravity or those in a spring. [1]

In essence we have developed the idea of potential energy starting from force. Specifically, we have, from Equation 3.4.4 and the definition of work, the following relationship between the potential energy difference between two points and the conservative force that does the work for which the use of potential energy is a shortcut:

Potential energy is the energy a system has due to position, shape, or configuration. It is stored energy that is completely recoverable. A conservative force is one for which work done by or against it depends only on the starting and ending points of a motion and not on the path taken.

Potential energy is energy which results from position or configuration. The SI unit for energy is the joule = newton x meter in accordance with the basic definition of energy as the capacity for …

Since gravity is the only external force acting on the cylinder that is capable of doing any work, we can examine the equilibrium and stability of the system by considering the potential energy function.

Define conservative force, potential energy, and mechanical energy. Explain the potential energy of a spring in terms of its compression when Hooke’s law applies. Use the work-energy theorem to show how having only conservative forces implies conservation of mechanical energy.

Define conservative force, potential energy, and mechanical energy. Explain the potential energy of a spring in terms of its compression when Hooke’s law applies. Use the work-energy theorem to show how having only conservative forces implies conservation of mechanical energy.

These forces can ’store’ energy and return it later. As examples we determine the potential energy of a gravitational force field and of a spring, which are both conservative forces. The gravitational force F→ ig = mi g→ F → i g = m i g → is given by Equation 6.27.

A) Overview This unit introduces an important new concept: potential energy. In particular, for any conservative force, we can define the change in potential energy of an object as minus the work done by this force. In this course, we deal with two conservative forces, gravity and springs.