CHAPTER

SUMMARY

Gravitational potential energy and elastic potential

energy: The work done on a particle by a constant
gravitational force can be represented as a change
in the gravitational potential energy Ugrav = mgy.
This energy is a shared property of the particle and
the earth. A potential energy is also associated with
the elastic force Fx = - kx exerted by an ideal
spring, where x is the amount of stretch or compression. The work done by this force can be represented as a change in the elastic potential energy
of the spring, Uel = 12 kx 2.

Wgrav = mgy1 - mgy2

= Ugrav,1 - Ugrav,2
= - Ugrav

When total mechanical energy is conserved:

The total potential energy U is the sum of the
gravitational and elastic potential energy:
U = Ugrav + Uel . If no forces other than the
gravitational and elastic forces do work on a
particle, the sum of kinetic and potential energy
is conserved. This sum E = K + U is called the
total mechanical energy. (See Examples 7.1, 7.3,
7.4, and 7.7.)

K 1 + U1 = K 2 + U2

When total mechanical energy is not conserved:

When forces other than the gravitational and elastic
forces do work on a particle, the work Wother done
by these other forces equals the change in total
mechanical energy (kinetic energy plus total
potential energy). (See Examples 7.2, 7.5, 7.6,
7.8, and 7.9.)

K 1 + U1 + Wother = K 2 + U2

Conservative forces, nonconservative forces, and the

law of conservation of energy: All forces are either
conservative or nonconservative. A conservative
force is one for which the workkinetic energy
relationship is completely reversible. The work of a
conservative force can always be represented by a
potential-energy function, but the work of a nonconservative force cannot. The work done by nonconservative forces manifests itself as changes in
the internal energy of bodies. The sum of kinetic,
potential, and internal energy is always conserved.
(See Examples 7.107.12.)

K + U + Uint = 0

Determining force from potential energy: For motion

along a straight line, a conservative force Fx 1x2 is
the negative derivative of its associated potentialenergy function U. In three dimensions, the components of a conservative force are negative partial
derivatives of U. (See Examples 7.13 and 7.14.)

Fx 1x2 = -

Ugrav,1 5 mgy1

Uel 5

(7.1), (7.3)

1
2

kx2
x

Wel = 12 kx 12 - 12 kx 22
= Uel, 1 - Uel, 2 = - Uel

x50

(7.10)

Ugrav,2 5 mgy2
O

(7.4), (7.11)

At y 5 h
E 5K 1Ugrav

zero

At y 5 0

(7.14)

At point 1

E 5K 1Ugrav

Point 1 f 5 0
n50
w

zero
E5K 1Ugrav

f
zero

At point 2

E 5K 1Ugrav

n
f

Point 2

zero

zero

n
w

zero

(7.15)
E5K1Ugrav

E5K1 Ugrav
v50

As friction slows block,

mechanical energy is converted
to internal energy of block and ramp.

0U
0x
0U
Fz = 0z

Fx = -

F a
S

230

dU1x2

(7.16)

dx
Fy = -

0U
0y

0U
0U
0U n
n
n
kb
0x
0y
0z

Unstable equilibria

(7.17)

(7.18)

x
Stable equilibria