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  Home : Math & Science : Physics Study Guides : Work, Energy & Power : Conservation : Terms and Formulae
Conservation of Energy
  
 
Terms and Formulae
Terms
Conservative force  -  Any force which conserves mechanical energy, as opposed to a nonconservative force. See statement of conservation of mechanical energy.
Conservative System  -  A system in which energy is conserved.
Nonconservative Force  -  Any force which does not conserve mechanical energy, as opposed to a conservative force.
Path independence  -  Property of conservative forces which states that the work done on any path between two given points is the same.
Potential energy  -  The energy of configuration of a conservative system. For formulae, see Definition of potential energy, gravitational potential energy, and Definition of potential energy given a position-dependent force.
Kinetic Energy  -  The energy of motion.
Total mechanical energy  -  The sum of the kinetic and potential energy of a conservative system. See definition of total mechanical energy.
Formulae
Definition of potential energy. ΔU = - W
Gravitational potential energy. UG = mgh
Statement of conservation of mechanical energy. Δ(U+K) = 0
Definition of total mechanical energy. U + K = E
Definition of potential energy given a position-dependent force. ΔU = -
F(x)dx
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