Potential And Potential Energy
Potential and Potential Energy Concepts:
Potential energy:
- The stored energy of a system associated with its position or configuration.
Gravitational potential energy (PE):
- Energy due to an object’s position in a gravitational field.
Formula:
PE = mgh m: mass,g: acceleration due to gravity,h: height.
Elastic potential energy:
- Stored energy in stretched/compressed objects.
Formula:
PE = (1/2)kx^2 k: spring constant,x: displacement from equilibrium.
Chemical potential energy:
- Energy stored in chemical bonds.
Nuclear potential energy:
- Energy stored within an atom’s nucleus.
Electric potential energy:
- Energy due to charged particles’ arrangement.
Formula:
PE = k(Q₁Q₂) / r k: Coulomb’s constant,Q₁andQ₂: charges,r: distance between charges.
Equipotential surfaces:
- Surfaces where potential is constant.
Potential difference:
- Difference in potential between two points. Unit: Volts (V).
Work done by a conservative force:
- Negative change in potential energy.
Formula:
W = -ΔPE
Conservation of energy:
- Total energy in a closed system remains constant.
