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1 vote
2 answers
80 views

Confusion in definition of Potential Energy

Potential energy is defined like this. $ΔP.E=-W_{AB}$. This means that the potential energy at point A minus potential energy at point B should equal the negative of the work done by a conservative ...
Hammock's user avatar
  • 122
1 vote
4 answers
311 views

Concept of Gravitational potential energy

Change in Potential energy corresponding to a conservative force is defined as $$\Delta U = U_f - U_i=-W_f$$ and gravitational potential energy is $$\Delta U = U_f-U_i = -W_g $$ Suppose a mass $m_1$ ...
Michael Stevens's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
182 views

Better understanding of the definition of Gravitational Potential as the improper integral $\frac{1}{m}\int^x _{\infty}G\frac{Mm}{x^2}dx$

According to Wikipedia "The gravitational potential $V$ at a distance $x$ from a point mass of mass $M$ can be defined as the work $W$ that needs to be done by an external agent to bring a unit ...
Sam's user avatar
  • 379
3 votes
3 answers
941 views

What is meant by 'Gravitational Potential Energy of a System'?

'Gravitational potential energy' is defined as: 'energy an object possesses because of its position in a gravitational field'. Consider two planets of masses $M$ and $m$ at a distance from $r$ of each ...
ACB's user avatar
  • 2,578
1 vote
2 answers
298 views

What is the height in the potential energy formulation? [duplicate]

Most examples I've seen describe the (gravitational) potential energy e.g. with an example of a ball thrown upwards, and explain how the sum of the ball's kinetic and potential energy is constant at ...
psz's user avatar
  • 13
-1 votes
2 answers
321 views

The reference point of potential energy

In one dimension (I am not familiar with multivariable calculus), potential energy is defined as $$E_p = -\int F \ dx$$ This is an indefinite integral, and the integration constant $C$ is involved ...
abouttostart's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
941 views

Potential energy definition in terms of work done

It's true the source might not be the most reliable of all, however it states that: The potential energy $U$ is equal to the work you must do to move an object from the $U=0$ reference point to the ...
user4205580's user avatar
3 votes
3 answers
4k views

Potential energy $= mgh$, what is $h$?

NOTE: when I say potential energy I mean gravitational PE The formula for potential energy is P.E = mgh. What is h referring to? Height, obviously. Consider the example: What is the potential ...
lagrange103's user avatar