Terms and Formulae
Terms
Conservative force
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Any force which conserves mechanical energy, as opposed to a nonconservative
force. See statement of conservation of mechanical
energy.
Conservative System
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A system in which energy is conserved.
Energy
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The ability to do work.
Kinetic Energy
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The energy of motion.
Nonconservative Force
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Any force which does not conserve mechanical energy, as opposed to a
conservative force.
Path independence
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Property of conservative forces which states that the
work done on any path between two given
points is the same.
Potential energy
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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.
Total mechanical energy
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The sum of the kinetic and potential energy of a conservative
system. See definition of total mechanical energy.
Work
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A force applied over a distance. For formulas, see work done by a constant
force parallel to displacement and work done by any
constant force, and
work done by a position-dependent force.
Joule
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The units of work, equivalent to a Newton-meter. Also units of energy.
Power
-
Work done per unit time. For formulas, see Formula for average
power,
Definition of instantaneous power, and formula
for instantaneous power.
Watt
-
Unit of power; equal to joule/second.
Formulas
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Work done by a constant force parallel to displacement
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W = Fx
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Work done by any constant force
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W = Fx cosθ
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Work-Energy Theorem
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W = ΔK
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Formula for average power
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=
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Definition of instantaneous power
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P =
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Formula for instantaneous power
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P = Fv cosθ
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Work done by a position-dependent force
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W = F(x)dx force.
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Definition of potential energy.
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ΔU = - W
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Gravitational potential energy.
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UG = mgh
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Statement of conservation of mechanical energy.
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Δ(U+K) = 0
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Definition of total mechanical energy.
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U + K = E
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Definition of potential energy given a position-dependent force.
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ΔU = - F(x)dx
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