PHYS 1111 - Introductory Physics I
Chapter 8 - Potential Energy and Conservative Forces

Study Assignment:

Chapter 8, Sections 8.1 - 8.4

Lesson notes:

Work and energy are fundamental concepts in physics. In this chapter, we will introduce the concept of potential energy. We will then begin to generalize our discussion of work and energy into one of the fundamental laws of science, the conservation of energy. Conservation of energy is the first of three conservation laws that will be introduced in this course. The insight that certain quantities do not change in time within closed systems leads to extremely powerful tools for understanding nature at its most fundamental level. The work-energy theorem will be generalized to include nonconservative forces, and the law of conservation of energy will be discussed.

Objectives:

1. Be able to apply the definition of work to the force due to gravity near the Earth's surface to derive an expression for gravitational potential energy.

2. Understand the definitions of conservative and nonconservative forces.

3. Understand the law of conservation of mechanical energy for conservative forces and be able to apply it to problems.

4. Be able to apply the definition of work to the spring force function to derive an expression for spring potential energy.

5. Understand the generalized work-energy theorem and be able to apply it to problems involving both conservative and non-conservative forces.

6. Be able to state law of conservation of energy and understand its meaning.

 

Vocabulary:

potential energy
conservative force
nonconservative force
Hooke's law
spring constant
elastic (spring) potential energy

Homework:

See the homework solutions page here.

Last update: January 07, 2011