Potential Energy

These flashcards cover key concepts and definitions related to potential energy, as discussed in the lecture notes.

Potential Energy

A type of energy associated with conservative forces, such as gravity or the force of a spring.

Gravitational Potential Energy

Potential energy related to the position of an object in a gravitational field, calculated as $U_G = m imes g imes h$.

Elastic Potential Energy

Potential energy stored in a spring when it is compressed or stretched, calculated as U_e = rac{1}{2} k x^2.

Conservative Forces

Forces that conserve mechanical energy, allowing potential energy to be defined.

Work-Energy Principle

The change in potential energy associated with a conservative force is equal to the negative work done by that force.

Spring Constant (k)

A measure of a spring's stiffness, used in calculating elastic potential energy.

Displacement (x)

The distance the spring is stretched or compressed from its un-stretched position.

Arbitrary Zero Reference Point

A chosen point where potential energy is defined as zero, depending on the problem context.

Kinetic Energy

The energy of an object due to its motion, which inversely relates to potential energy during vertical movement.

Negative Work

Work done by a conservative force when an object moves in the direction of the force's opposition.

Maximum Potential Energy Condition

Occurs when an object's height is at its highest, leading to minimum kinetic energy.

Lowest Point Condition

Normally defined as zero potential energy in many problems, especially in gravitational contexts.