All Questions
Tagged with energy potential-energy
480
questions
8
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3
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891
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Coincidence, purposeful definition, or something else in formulas for energy
In the small amount of physics that I have learned thus far, there seems to be a (possibly superficial pattern) that I have been wondering about.
The formula for the kinetic energy of a moving ...
-5
votes
2
answers
4k
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Is electron volt an alternate unit for electric potential? [closed]
My question is: Can an electron volt be considered an alternate unit for electric potential?
- 11
1
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2
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603
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Potential and Kinetic Energy
In engineering school you learn the basic swing problem. Essentially that there is a transfer of kinetic energy (as seen in the velocity at the bottom of as swing) to potential energy at the top of ...
- 11
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2
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Relation between work, kinetic energy and potential energy
We derived two equations in class.
The work done between two points $A$, $B$ is equal to the difference between the kinetic energy at the last point and the one at the first point.
The work done ...
- 1,880
9
votes
2
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355
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What can be known about the formulas for energy only from the fact that it is conserved?
The question is to figure out how the energy can be derived knowing just one thing:
There is a quantity called Energy that is conserved over time.
The goal is to get an equation that somehow ...
- 1,760
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6
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Why is potential energy negative when orbiting in a gravitational field?
I had to do a problem, and part of it was to find the mechanical energy of satellite orbiting around mars, and I had all of the information I needed. I thought the total mechanical energy would be the ...
- 2,889
1
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3
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693
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Negative potential energy of gravity
Does the negative potential energy in the gravitational field have to be considered in calculating the total mass of the system in question (because of $E=mc^2$)?
If so it seems to me that the ...
- 481
3
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1
answer
1k
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Work done by gravity on Water
Now according to me we would see change in potential energy of system and equate it to the work done by gravity.
But when we see this the first column lowers by $H/2$ and right one rises by $H/2$ and ...
- 2,479
-1
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1
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163
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Gravitational potential energy
Consider two places next to each other: Place 1, where there is a gravitational field whereas Place 2 - there's no field.
Now if we lifted a box in place 1, it gains potential energy. Then, we move ...
0
votes
2
answers
375
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Elastic potential
I have a doubt:
elastic potential energy is given by: $U=\frac{k}{2}x^2+K$
but does elastic potential exist? (for example: potential gravitational energy is given by $U=mgz+K$ and gravitational ...
- 1,133
4
votes
3
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1k
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storing energy (as mass)
When chemical energy is released mass is reduced, if only by a negligible amount. Presumably that's true for all energy. And presumably that works in reverse as well: storing energy involves an ...
- 375
1
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1
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115
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Terminology question about energy
I'm looking for the appropriate term to use for what gets "used up" as potential energy is converted to heat and work. For example, some of the the energy in solar radiation is converted by ...
- 375
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1
answer
284
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Violation of conservation of energy and potential energy between objects
I would like to clarify my question. I have numbered them to be independent questions
For any conservative fields, $\vec{F} = -\nabla U$. Which means the restoring force is opposite to the increasing ...
- 1
1
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2
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345
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Could someone remind me what this means again? $\nabla U = \pm F$
You know that for a potential function (conservative force/fields) that
$\nabla U = \pm \vec{F}$
In math, we don't have that minus sign, we have only the plus one.
What does it mean if you get rid ...
- 937
2
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4
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In continuum mechanics, what is work potential in the context of total potential energy?
I'm reading a book on the finite element method. Specifically I'm looking at the background material where they are discussing potential energy, equilibrium, and the Rayleigh–Ritz method.
The book ...
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