1. Potential energy and conservation of energy
Chapter 8
Potential energy and conservation of energy

2. Potential energy  Energy of configuration
Work and potential energy
Conservative / Non-conservative forces
Determining potential energy values:
- Gravitational potential energy
- Elastic potential energy
V. Conservation of mechanical energy
External work and thermal energy
External forces and internal energy changes

3. I. Potential energy
Energy associated with the arrangement of a system of objects that exert forces on one another.
Units: 1J
Examples:
Gravitational potential energy: associated with the state of separation between objects which can attract one another via the gravitational force.
Elastic potential energy: associated with the state of
compression/extension of an elastic object.

4. II. Work and potential energy
If tomato rises  gravitational force transfers energy “from” tomato’s kinetic energy “to” the gravitational potential energy of the tomato-Earth system.
If tomato falls down  gravitational force transfers energy “from” the gravitational potential energy “to” the tomato’s kinetic energy.

5. Potential Energy
The energy storage mechanism is called potential energy
A potential energy can only be associated with specific types of forces
Potential energy is always associated with a system of two or more interacting objects

6. Gravitational Potential Energy
Gravitational Potential Energy is associated with an object at a given distance above Earth’s surface
Assume the object is in equilibrium or moving at constant velocity
The work done on the object is done by Fapp and the upward displacement is

7. Gravitational Potential Energy
The quantity mgy is identified as the gravitational potential energy, Ug
Ug = mgy
Units are joules (J)

8. Gravitational Potential Energy
The gravitational potential energy depends only on the vertical height of the object above Earth’s surface
In solving problems, you must choose a reference configuration for which the gravitational potential energy is set equal to some reference value, normally zero
The choice is arbitrary because you normally need the difference in potential energy, which is independent of the choice of reference configuration

9. Conservation of Mechanical Energy
The mechanical energy of a system is the algebraic sum of the kinetic and potential energies in the system
Emech = K + Ug
The statement of Conservation of Mechanical Energy for an isolated system is
Kf + Uf = Ki+ Ui
An isolated system is one for which there are no energy transfers across the boundary

10. Conservation of Mechanical Energy
Look at the work done by the book as it falls from some height yb to a lower height ya
Won book = ΔKbook
Also,
W = mgyb – mgya
So,
ΔK = -ΔUg

11. Elastic Potential Energy
Elastic Potential Energy is associated with a spring
The force the spring exerts (on a block, for example) can be mathematically modeled as
Fs = - kx
where x is the position of the block relative to its equilibrium (x=0) position and k is a positive constant called the force constant or the spring constant.
The force required to stretch or compress the spring is proportional to the amount of stretch or compression. This force law for springs is known as Hooke’s law. The value of k is a measure of the stiffness of the spring
The vector form of the Hook’s law:
where we have chosen the x axis to lie along the spring extension.

12. Elastic Potential Energy
The work done by an external applied force on a spring-block system is
If the block undergoes an arbitrary displacement from x=xi to x=xf the work done by the spring force on the block is
The work is equal to the difference between the initial and final values of elastic potential energy of the block-spring system

13. Elastic Potential Energy
Us = ½ kx2
The elastic potential energy can be thought of as the energy stored in the deformed spring
The stored potential energy can be converted into kinetic energy

14. Elastic Potential Energy
The elastic potential energy stored in a spring is zero whenever the spring is not deformed (U = 0 when x = 0)
The energy is stored in the spring only when the spring is stretched or compressed
The elastic potential energy is a maximum when the spring has reached its maximum extension or compression
The elastic potential energy is always positive,
x2 will always be positive

15. General:
System of two or more objects.
A force acts between a particle in the system and the rest of the system.
- When system configuration changes  force does work on the object (W1) transferring energy between KE of the object and some other form of energy of the system.
When the configuration change is reversed  force reverses the energy transfer, doing W2.

16. Problem Solving Strategy – Conservation of Mechanical Energy
Define the isolated system and the initial and final configuration of the system
The system may include two or more interacting particles
The system may also include springs or other structures in which elastic potential energy can be stored
Also include all components of the system that exert forces on each other

17. Problem-Solving Strategy
Identify the configuration for zero potential energy
Include both gravitational and elastic potential energies
If more than one force is acting within the system, write an expression for the potential energy associated with each force

18. Problem-Solving Strategy
If friction or air resistance is present, mechanical energy of the system is not conserved
Use energy with non-conservative forces instead

19. Problem-Solving Strategy
If the mechanical energy of the system is conserved, write the total energy as
Ei = Ki + Ui for the initial configuration
Ef = Kf + Uf for the final configuration
Since mechanical energy is conserved, Ei = Ef
and you can solve for the unknown quantity

20. Conservation of Energy Example 1 (Drop a Ball)
Initial conditions:
Ei = Ki + Ui = mgh
The ball is dropped, so Ki = 0
The configuration for zero potential energy is the ground
Conservation rules applied at some point y above the ground gives
½ mvf2 + mgy = mgh

21. Conservation of Energy Example 2 (Pendulum)
As the pendulum swings, there is a continuous change between potential and kinetic energies
At A, the energy is potential
At B, all of the potential energy at A is transformed into kinetic energy
Let zero potential energy be at B
At C, the kinetic energy has been transformed back into potential energy

22. Conservation of Energy Example 3 (Spring Gun)
Choose point A as the initial point and C as the final point
EA = EC
KA + UgA + UsA = KC + UgC + UsB
½ kx2 = mgh

23. Also valid for elastic potential energy
Spring compression
Spring force does –W on block  energy transfer from kinetic energy of the block to potential elastic energy of the spring. fs
Spring extension
Spring force does +W on block  energy transfer from potential energy of the spring to kinetic energy of the block. fs

24. III. Conservative / Nonconservative forces
If W1=W2 always  conservative force.
Examples: Gravitational force and spring force  associated with potential energies.
If W1≠W2  nonconservative force.
Examples: Drag force, frictional force  KE transferred into thermal energy. Non-reversible process.
- Thermal energy: Energy associated with the random movement of atoms and molecules. This is not a potential energy.

25. Conservative force  Wab,1= Wab,2
Conservative force: The net work it does on a particle moving around every closed path, from an initial point and then back to that point is zero.
- The net work it does on a particle moving between two points does not depend on the particle’s path.
Conservative force  Wab,1= Wab,2
Proof:
Wab,1+ Wba,2=0  Wab,1= -Wba,2
Wab,2= - Wba,2
 Wab,2= Wab,1

26. IV. Determining potential energy values
Force F is conservative
Gravitational potential energy:
Change in the gravitational potential energy of the particle-Earth system.

27. Elastic potential energy:
Reference configuration
The gravitational potential energy associated with particle-Earth system depends only on particle’s vertical position “y” relative to the reference position y=0, not on the horizontal position.
Elastic potential energy:
Change in the elastic potential energy of the spring-block system.

28. Reference configuration  when the spring is at its relaxed length and the block is at xi=0.
Remember! Potential energy is always associated with a system.

29. V. Conservation of mechanical energy
Mechanical energy of a system: Sum of the it’s potential (U) and kinetic (K) energies.
Emec= U + K
Only conservative forces cause energy transfer within the system.
Assumptions:
The system is isolated from its environment  No external force from an object outside the system causes energy changes inside the system.
ΔEmec= ΔK + ΔU = 0

30. In an isolated system where only conservative forces cause energy changes, the kinetic energy and potential energy can change, but their sum, the mechanical energy of the system cannot change.
When the mechanical energy of a system is conserved, we can relate the sum of kinetic energy and potential energy at one instant to that at another instant without considering the intermediate motion and without finding the work done by the forces involved.

31. A bead slides without friction around a loop-the-loop
A bead slides without friction around a loop-the-loop. The bead is released from a height h = 3.50R (a) What is its speed at point A? (b) How large is the normal force on it if its mass is 5.00 g?

32. Potential energy curves
Emec= constant y x
Potential energy curves

33. The particle’s kinetic energy is: K(x) = Emec – U(x)
Finding the force analytically:
The force is the negative of the slope of the curve U(x) versus x.
The particle’s kinetic energy is: K(x) = Emec – U(x)

34. VI. Work done on a system by an external force
Work is energy transfer “to” or “from” a system by means of an external force acting on that system.
When more than one force acts on
a system their net work is the energy
transferred to or from the system.
W = ΔEmec= ΔK+ ΔU  Ext. force
No Friction:

35. Remember!
ΔEmec= ΔK+ ΔU = 0 only when: System isolated.
No external forces act on a system.
All internal forces are conservative.
Friction:

36. Example: Block sliding up a ramp.
General:
Example: Block sliding up a ramp.

37. A 15. 7 kg block is dragged over a rough, horizontal surface by a 72
A 15.7 kg block is dragged over a rough, horizontal surface by a 72.2 N force acting at 21° above the horizontal. The block is displaced 4.5 m, and the coefficient of kinetic friction is Find the work done on the block by (a) the 72.2 N force, (b) the normal force, and (c) the gravitational force. (d) What is the increase in internal energy of the block-surface system due to friction? (e) Find the total change in the block's kinetic energy. y F N F 21 Fy fk Fx Fg d

38. A potential energy function for a two-dimensional force is of the form U = 3x3y – 7x. Find the force that act at the point (x,y).

39. Thermal energy:
Friction due to cold welding between two surfaces. As the block slides over the floor, the sliding causes tearing and reforming of the welds between the block and the floor, which makes the block-floor warmer.
Work done on a system by an external force, friction involved

40. VI. Conservation of energy
Total energy of a system = Emechanical + Ethermal + Einternal
- The total energy of a system can only change by amounts of energy transferred “from” or “to” the system.
 Experimental law
The total energy of an isolated system cannot change. (There cannot be energy transfers to or from it).

41. Isolated system:
In an isolated system we can relate the total energy at one instant to the total energy at another instant without considering the energies at intermediate states.

42. Change in system’s mechanical energy by an external force
VII. External forces and internal energy changes
Example: skater pushes herself away from a railing. There is a force F on her from the railing that increases her kinetic energy.
One part of an object (skater’s arm)
does not move like the rest of body.
ii) Internal energy transfer (from one part
of the system to another) via the external force F. Biochemical energy from muscles transferred to kinetic energy of the body.
Change in system’s mechanical energy by an external force

43. Change in system’s internal energy by a external force
Proof:

44. Derive an expression for v0 in terms of L, m and g.
129. A massless rigid rod of length L has a ball of mass m attached to one end. The other end is pivoted in such a way that the ball will move in a vertical circle. First, assume that there is no friction at the pivot. The system is launched downward from the horizontal position A with initial speed v0. The ball just barely reaches point D and then stops.
Derive an expression for v0 in terms of L, m and g. D y
(b) What is the tension in the rod when the ball passes through B? A L C x
(c) A little girl is placed on the pivot to increase the friction there. Then the ball just barely reaches C when launched from A with the same speed as before. What is the decrease in mechanical energy during this motion? v0 Fc T B mg
(d) What is the decrease in mechanical energy by the time the ball finally comes to rest at B after several oscillations?

45. 7. A particle is attached between two identical springs on a horizontal frictionless table. Both springs have spring constant k and are initially unstressed. (a) If the particle is pulled a distance x along a direction perpendicular to the initial configuration of the springs show that the force exerted by the springs on the particle is
(b) Determine the amount of work done by this force in moving the particle from x = A to x = 0; (c) show that the potential energy of the system is:

46. 61. In the figure below, a block slides along a path that is without friction until the block reaches the section of length L=0.75m, which begins at height h=2m. In that section, the coefficient of kinetic friction is 0.4. The block passes through point A with a speed of m/s. Does it reach point B (where the section of friction ends)? If so, what is the speed there and if not, what greatest height above point A does it reach? N C f mg

47. 101. A 3kg sloth hangs 3m above the ground
101. A 3kg sloth hangs 3m above the ground. (a) What is the gravitational potential energy of the sloth-Earth system if we take the reference point y=0 to be at the ground? If the sloth drops to the ground and air drag on it is assumed to be negligible, what are (b) the kinetic energy and (c) the speed of the sloth just before it reaches the ground?

48. 130. A metal tool is sharpen by being held against the rim of a wheel on a grinding machine by a force of 180N. The frictional forces between the rim and the tool grind small pieces of the tool. The wheel has a radius of 20cm and rotates at 2.5 rev/s. The coefficient of kinetic friction between the wheel and the tool is At what rate is energy being transferred from the motor driving the wheel and the tool to the kinetic energy of the material thrown from the tool? v
F=180N

49. 82. A block with a kinetic energy of 30J is about to collide with a spring at its relaxed length. As the block compresses the spring, a frictional force between the block and floor acts on the block. The figure below gives the kinetic energy of the block (K(x)) and the potential energy of the spring (U(x)) as a function of the position x of the block, as the spring is compressed. What is the increase in thermal energy of the block and the floor when (a) the block reaches position 0.1 m and (b) the spring reaches its maximum compression? N f mg