What is the nature of the graph between KE and PE of a particle?

1. Work done:

W=∫dW=∫F→⋅dr→=∫Fdrcosθ,

[where θ is the angle between F→ & dr→]

(i) For constant force W=F→⋅d→=Fdcosθ

(ii) Calculation of work done from force-displacement graph:

W=∫dW=∫Fdx= Area between F- x curve and x-axis

(iii) Nature of work done: Although work done is a scalar quantity, yet its value may be positive, negative or even zero

2. Work done by multiple forces:

ΣF→=F→1+F→2+F→3+…

W=ΣF→⋅S …i

W=F1⋅S→+F→2⋅S→+F→3⋅S→+…

or W=W1+W2+W3+…

3. Relation between momentum and kinetic energy:

K=p22m and P=2mK; P= linear momentum

4. Potential Energy

∫U1U2dU=-∫r1r2F→⋅dr→ i.e. U2-U1=-∫r1r2F→.dr→=-W

U=-∫∞rF→⋅dr→=-W

5. Conservative Forces

F=-∂U∂r

6. Work-energy theorem

WC+WNC+WPS=ΔK

Modified Form of Work-Energy Theorem

WC=-ΔU

WNC+WPS=ΔK+ΔU

WNC+WPS=ΔE

7. Power:

The average power ( P¯ or pavg) delivered by an agent is given by P¯ or pav=Wt

Instantaneous Power: P=dWdt=F→.dS→dt=F→.dS→dt=F→⋅v→

8. Potential energy curve and equilibrium:

It is a curve which shows change in potential energy with position of a particle.

(i) Stable Equilibrium:

When a particle is slightly displaced from equilibrium position and it tends to come back towards equilibrium then it is said to be in stable equilibrium.

At point C: slope dUdx is negative. So, F is positive.

At point D: slope dUdx is positive. So, F is negative.

At point C: It is the point of stable equilibrium.

U=Umin,  dUdx=0 and d2Udx2= positive

(ii) Unstable equilibrium:

When a particle is slightly displaced from equilibrium and it tends to move away from equilibrium position then it is said to be in unstable equilibrium.

At point E: slope dUdx is positive. So, F is negative.

At point G: slope dUdx is negative. So, F is positive.

At point B: It is the point of unstable equilibrium.

U=Umax,  dUdx=0 and d2Udx2= negative

(iii) Neutral equilibrium:

When a particle is slightly displaced from equilibrium position and no force acts on it then equilibrium is said to be neutral equilibrium. Point H is at neutral equilibrium.

⇒U= constant, dUdx=0,  d2Udx2=0

9. Collision of bodies

The event or the process, in which two bodies either coming in contact with each other or due to mutual interaction at distance apart, affect each other's motion (velocity, momentum, energy or direction of motion) is defined as a collision.

In collision, the particles come closer before collision and after collision they either stick together or move away from each other. The particles need not come in contact with each other for a collision.

The law of conservation of linear momentum is necessarily applicable in a collision, whereas the law of conservation of mechanical energy is not.

10. Coefficient of restitution e:

e=Impulse of reformation  Impulse of deformation =∫Frdt∫Fddt

= Velocity of separation along line of impact  Velocity of approach along line of impact 

(i) Elastic Collision

e=1

⇒ Impulse of Reformation = Impulse of Deformation

⇒ Velocity of separation = Velocity of approach

⇒ Kinetic Energy may be conserved

⇒ Elastic collision.

(ii) Perfectly Inelastic Collision

e=0

⇒ Impulse of Reformation =0

⇒ Velocity of separation =0

⇒ Kinetic Energy is not conserved

⇒ Perfectly Inelastic collision.

(iii) Inelastic Collision

0<e<1

⇒ Impulse of Reformation < Impulse of Deformation

⇒ Velocity of separation < Velocity of approach

⇒ Kinetic Energy is not conserved

⇒ Inelastic collision

11. Head on collision:

Consider the Head on inelastic collision of two particles,

Let the coefficient of restitution for collision is e

(i) Momentum is conserved m1u1+m2u2=m1v1+m2v2 …i

(ii) Kinetic energy is not conserved.

(iii) According to Newton's law e=v2-v1u1-u2 …ii

By solving equations (i) and (ii):

v1=m1-em2m1+m2u1+(1+e)m2m1+m2u2=m1u1+m2u2-m2eu1-u2m1+m2

v2=m2-em1m1+m2u2+(1+e)m1m1+m2u1=m1u1+m2u2-m1eu2-u1m1+m2

12. Elastic Collision e=1

(i) If the two bodies are of equal masses: m1=m2=m,then,  v1=u2 and v2=u1

Thus, if two bodies of equal masses undergo elastic collision in one dimension, then after the collision, the bodies will exchange their velocities.

(ii) If the mass of a body is negligible as compared to other.

(a) If m1>>m2 and u2=0 then v1=u1,v2=2u1

when a heavy body A collides against a light body B at rest, the body A should keep on moving with same velocity and the body B will move with velocity double that of A.

(b) If m2>>m1 and u2=0 then v2=0,v1=-u1

When light body A collides against a heavy body B at rest, the body A should start moving with same velocity just in opposite direction while the body B should practically remains at rest.

13. Inelastic Collision:

Loss in kinetic energy in inelastic collision

ΔK=m1 m22 m1+m21-e2u1-u22

14. Oblique Collision:

Conserving the momentum of system in directions along normal (x axis in our case) and tangential (y axis in our case)

m1u1cosα1+m2u2cosα2=m1v1cosβ1+m2v2cosβ2 and

m2u2sinα2-m1u1sinα1=m2v2sinβ2-m1v1sinβ1

Since no force is acting on m1 and m2 along the tangent (i.e. y-axis) the individual momentum of m1 and m2 remains conserved.

m1u1sinα1=m1v1sinβ1 & m2u2sinα2=m2v2sinβ2

By using Newton's experimental law along the line of impact

e=v2cosβ2-v1cosβ1u1cosα1-u2cosα2

15. Variable mass system:

If a mass is added or ejected from a system, at rate μ kg s-1 and relative velocity v→rel (w.r.t. the system), then the force exerted by this mass on the system has magnitude μv→rel.

Thrust Force F→t:

F→t=v→reldmdt

16. Rocket propulsion:

At t=0

v=u

m=m0

At t=t

v=v

m=m

exhaust velocity =vr

Thrust force on the rocket =vr-dmdt

Velocity of rocket at any instant v=u-gt+vrlnm0m

If gravity is ignored and initial velocity of the rocket u=0,

v=vrlnm0m

17. Circular motion in vertical plane:

(i) Condition to complete vertical circle u ≥ 5gR

(ii) If u=5gR then Tension at C is equal to 0 and tension at A is equal to 6mg.

Velocity at B: vB=3gR

Velocity at C: vC=gR

From A to B:

T=mgcosθ+mv2R

From B to C:

T=mv2R-mgcosθ

(iii) Condition for pendulum motion (oscillating condition)

u ≤ 2gR (in between A to B)

Velocity can be zero but T never be zero between A & B.

Because T is given by T=mgcosθ+mv2R

(iv) Condition for leaving path: 2gR<u<5gR

Particle crosses the point B but not complete the vertical circle

Tension will be zero in between B to C & the angle where T=0

cosθ=u2-2 gR3gR, θ is from vertical line

Note: After leaving the circle, the particle will follow a parabolic path.

By the end of this section, you will be able to:

  • Create and interpret graphs of potential energy
  • Explain the connection between stability and potential energy

Often, you can get a good deal of useful information about the dynamical behavior of a mechanical system just by interpreting a graph of its potential energy as a function of position, called a potential energy diagram. This is most easily accomplished for a one-dimensional system, whose potential energy can be plotted in one two-dimensional graph—for example, U(x) versus x—on a piece of paper or a computer program. For systems whose motion is in more than one dimension, the motion needs to be studied in three-dimensional space. We will simplify our procedure for one-dimensional motion only.

First, let’s look at an object, freely falling vertically, near the surface of Earth, in the absence of air resistance. The mechanical energy of the object is conserved, [latex] E=K+U, [/latex] and the potential energy, with respect to zero at ground level, is [latex] U(y)=mgy, [/latex] which is a straight line through the origin with slope [latex] mg [/latex]. In the graph shown in (Figure), the x-axis is the height above the ground y and the y-axis is the object’s energy.

8.10 The potential energy graph for an object in vertical free fall, with various quantities indicated.

The line at energy E represents the constant mechanical energy of the object, whereas the kinetic and potential energies, [latex] {K}_{A} [/latex] and [latex] {U}_{A}, [/latex] are indicated at a particular height [latex] {y}_{A}. [/latex] You can see how the total energy is divided between kinetic and potential energy as the object’s height changes. Since kinetic energy can never be negative, there is a maximum potential energy and a maximum height, which an object with the given total energy cannot exceed:

[latex] \begin{array}{c}K=E-U\ge 0,\hfill \\ U\le E.\hfill \end{array} [/latex]

If we use the gravitational potential energy reference point of zero at [latex] {y}_{0}, [/latex] we can rewrite the gravitational potential energy U as mgy. Solving for y results in

[latex] y\le E\text{/}mg={y}_{\text{max}}. [/latex]

We note in this expression that the quantity of the total energy divided by the weight (mg) is located at the maximum height of the particle, or [latex] {y}_{\text{max}}. [/latex] At the maximum height, the kinetic energy and the speed are zero, so if the object were initially traveling upward, its velocity would go through zero there, and [latex] {y}_{\text{max}} [/latex] would be a turning point in the motion. At ground level, [latex] {y}_{0}=0 [/latex], the potential energy is zero, and the kinetic energy and the speed are maximum:

[latex] \begin{array}{ccc}\hfill {U}_{0}& =\hfill & 0=E-{K}_{0},\hfill \\ \hfill E& =\hfill & {K}_{0}=\frac{1}{2}m{v}_{0}{}^{2},\hfill \\ \hfill {v}_{0}& =\hfill & \text{±}\sqrt{2E\text{/}m}.\hfill \end{array} [/latex]

The maximum speed [latex] \text{±}{v}_{0} [/latex] gives the initial velocity necessary to reach [latex] {y}_{\text{max}}, [/latex] the maximum height, and [latex] \text{−}{v}_{0} [/latex] represents the final velocity, after falling from [latex] {y}_{\text{max}}. [/latex] You can read all this information, and more, from the potential energy diagram we have shown.

Consider a mass-spring system on a frictionless, stationary, horizontal surface, so that gravity and the normal contact force do no work and can be ignored ((Figure)). This is like a one-dimensional system, whose mechanical energy E is a constant and whose potential energy, with respect to zero energy at zero displacement from the spring’s unstretched length, [latex] x=0,\,\text{is}\,U(x)=\frac{1}{2}k{x}^{2} [/latex].

Figure 8.11 (a) A glider between springs on an air track is an example of a horizontal mass-spring system. (b) The potential energy diagram for this system, with various quantities indicated.

You can read off the same type of information from the potential energy diagram in this case, as in the case for the body in vertical free fall, but since the spring potential energy describes a variable force, you can learn more from this graph. As for the object in vertical free fall, you can deduce the physically allowable range of motion and the maximum values of distance and speed, from the limits on the kinetic energy, [latex] 0\le K\le E. [/latex] Therefore, [latex] K=0 [/latex] and [latex] U=E [/latex] at a turning point, of which there are two for the elastic spring potential energy,

[latex] {x}_{\text{max}}=\text{±}\sqrt{2E\text{/}k}. [/latex]

The glider’s motion is confined to the region between the turning points, [latex] \text{−}{x}_{\text{max}}\le x\le {x}_{\text{max}}. [/latex] This is true for any (positive) value of E because the potential energy is unbounded with respect to x. For this reason, as well as the shape of the potential energy curve, U(x) is called an infinite potential well. At the bottom of the potential well, [latex] x=0,U=0 [/latex] and the kinetic energy is a maximum, [latex] K=E,\,\text{so}\,{v}_{\text{max}}=\text{±}\sqrt{2E\text{/}m}. [/latex]

However, from the slope of this potential energy curve, you can also deduce information about the force on the glider and its acceleration. We saw earlier that the negative of the slope of the potential energy is the spring force, which in this case is also the net force, and thus is proportional to the acceleration. When [latex] x=0 [/latex], the slope, the force, and the acceleration are all zero, so this is an equilibrium point. The negative of the slope, on either side of the equilibrium point, gives a force pointing back to the equilibrium point, [latex] F=\text{±}kx, [/latex] so the equilibrium is termed stable and the force is called a restoring force. This implies that U(x) has a relative minimum there. If the force on either side of an equilibrium point has a direction opposite from that direction of position change, the equilibrium is termed unstable, and this implies that U(x) has a relative maximum there.

The potential energy for a particle undergoing one-dimensional motion along the x-axis is [latex] U(x)=2({x}^{4}-{x}^{2}), [/latex] where U is in joules and x is in meters. The particle is not subject to any non-conservative forces and its mechanical energy is constant at [latex] E=-0.25\,\text{J} [/latex]. (a) Is the motion of the particle confined to any regions on the x-axis, and if so, what are they? (b) Are there any equilibrium points, and if so, where are they and are they stable or unstable?

Strategy

First, we need to graph the potential energy as a function of x. The function is zero at the origin, becomes negative as x increases in the positive or negative directions ([latex] {x}^{2} [/latex] is larger than [latex] {x}^{4} [/latex] for [latex] x<1 [/latex]), and then becomes positive at sufficiently large [latex] |x| [/latex]. Your graph should look like a double potential well, with the zeros determined by solving the equation [latex] U(x)=0 [/latex], and the extremes determined by examining the first and second derivatives of U(x), as shown in (Figure).

Figure 8.12 The potential energy graph for a one-dimensional, quartic and quadratic potential energy, with various quantities indicated.

You can find the values of (a) the allowed regions along the x-axis, for the given value of the mechanical energy, from the condition that the kinetic energy can’t be negative, and (b) the equilibrium points and their stability from the properties of the force (stable for a relative minimum and unstable for a relative maximum of potential energy).

You can just eyeball the graph to reach qualitative answers to the questions in this example. That, after all, is the value of potential energy diagrams. You can see that there are two allowed regions for the motion [latex] (E>U) [/latex] and three equilibrium points (slope [latex] dU\text{/}dx=0), [/latex] of which the central one is unstable [latex] ({d}^{2}U\text{/}d{x}^{2}<0), [/latex] and the other two are stable [latex] ({d}^{2}U\text{/}d{x}^{2}>0). [/latex]

Solution

  1. To find the allowed regions for x, we use the condition

    [latex] K=E-U=-\frac{1}{4}-2({x}^{4}-{x}^{2})\ge 0. [/latex]

    If we complete the square in [latex] {x}^{2} [/latex], this condition simplifies to [latex] 2{({x}^{2}-\frac{1}{2})}^{2}\le \frac{1}{4}, [/latex] which we can solve to obtain

    [latex] \frac{1}{2}-\sqrt{\frac{1}{8}}\le {x}^{2}\le \frac{1}{2}+\sqrt{\frac{1}{8}}. [/latex]

    This represents two allowed regions, [latex] {x}_{p}\le x\le {x}_{R} [/latex] and [latex] \text{−}{x}_{R}\le x\le -{x}_{p}, [/latex] where [latex] {x}_{p}=0.38 [/latex] and [latex] {x}_{R}=0.92 [/latex] (in meters).

  2. To find the equilibrium points, we solve the equation

    [latex] dU\text{/}dx=8{x}^{3}-4x=0 [/latex]

    and find [latex] x=0 [/latex] and [latex] x=\text{±}{x}_{Q} [/latex], where [latex] {x}_{Q}=1\text{/}\sqrt{2}=0.707 [/latex] (meters). The second derivative

    [latex] {d}^{2}U\text{/}d{x}^{2}=24{x}^{2}-4 [/latex]

    is negative at [latex] x=0 [/latex], so that position is a relative maximum and the equilibrium there is unstable. The second derivative is positive at [latex] x=\text{±}{x}_{Q} [/latex], so these positions are relative minima and represent stable equilibria.

Significance

The particle in this example can oscillate in the allowed region about either of the two stable equilibrium points we found, but it does not have enough energy to escape from whichever potential well it happens to initially be in. The conservation of mechanical energy and the relations between kinetic energy and speed, and potential energy and force, enable you to deduce much information about the qualitative behavior of the motion of a particle, as well as some quantitative information, from a graph of its potential energy.

Repeat (Figure) when the particle’s mechanical energy is [latex] +0.25\,\text{J.} [/latex]

Before ending this section, let’s practice applying the method based on the potential energy of a particle to find its position as a function of time, for the one-dimensional, mass-spring system considered earlier in this section.

Find x(t) for a particle moving with a constant mechanical energy [latex] E>0 [/latex] and a potential energy [latex] U(x)=\frac{1}{2}k{x}^{2} [/latex], when the particle starts from rest at time [latex] t=0 [/latex].

Strategy

We follow the same steps as we did in (Example 8.9). Substitute the potential energy U into (Equation 8.14) and factor out the constants, like m or k. Integrate the function and solve the resulting expression for position, which is now a function of time.

Solution

Substitute the potential energy in (Equation 8.14) and integrate using an integral solver found on a web search:

[latex] t=\underset{{x}_{0}}{\overset{x}{\int }}\frac{dx}{\sqrt{(k\text{/}m)[(2E\text{/}k)-{x}^{2}]}}=\sqrt{\frac{m}{k}}[{\text{sin}}^{-1}(\frac{x}{\sqrt{2E\text{/}k}})-{\text{sin}}^{-1}(\frac{{x}_{0}}{\sqrt{2E\text{/}k}})]. [/latex]

From the initial conditions at [latex] t=0, [/latex] the initial kinetic energy is zero and the initial potential energy is [latex] \frac{1}{2}k{x}_{0}{}^{2}=E, [/latex] from which you can see that [latex] {x}_{0}\text{/}\sqrt{(2E\text{/}k)}=\text{±}1 [/latex] and [latex] {\text{sin}}^{-1}(\text{±})=\text{±}{90}^{0}. [/latex] Now you can solve for x:

[latex] x(t)=\sqrt{(2E\text{/}k)}\,\text{sin}[(\sqrt{k\text{/}m})t±{90}^{0}]=\text{±}\sqrt{(2E\text{/}k)}\,\text{cos}[(\sqrt{k\text{/}m})t]. [/latex]

A few paragraphs earlier, we referred to this mass-spring system as an example of a harmonic oscillator. Here, we anticipate that a harmonic oscillator executes sinusoidal oscillations with a maximum displacement of [latex] \sqrt{(2E\text{/}k)} [/latex] (called the amplitude) and a rate of oscillation of [latex] (1\text{/}2\pi )\sqrt{k\text{/}m} [/latex] (called the frequency). Further discussions about oscillations can be found in Oscillations.

Find [latex] x(t) [/latex] for the mass-spring system in (Figure) if the particle starts from [latex] {x}_{0}=0 [/latex] at [latex] t=0. [/latex] What is the particle’s initial velocity?

Summary

  • Interpreting a one-dimensional potential energy diagram allows you to obtain qualitative, and some quantitative, information about the motion of a particle.
  • At a turning point, the potential energy equals the mechanical energy and the kinetic energy is zero, indicating that the direction of the velocity reverses there.
  • The negative of the slope of the potential energy curve, for a particle, equals the one-dimensional component of the conservative force on the particle. At an equilibrium point, the slope is zero and is a stable (unstable) equilibrium for a potential energy minimum (maximum).

A mysterious constant force of 10 N acts horizontally on everything. The direction of the force is found to be always pointed toward a wall in a big hall. Find the potential energy of a particle due to this force when it is at a distance x from the wall, assuming the potential energy at the wall to be zero.

A single force [latex] F(x)=-4.0x [/latex] (in newtons) acts on a 1.0-kg body. When [latex] x=3.5\,\text{m,} [/latex] the speed of the body is 4.0 m/s. What is its speed at [latex] x=2.0\,\text{m?} [/latex]

A particle of mass 4.0 kg is constrained to move along the x-axis under a single force [latex] F(x)=\text{−}c{x}^{3}, [/latex] where [latex] c=8.0\,{\text{N/m}}^{3}. [/latex] The particle’s speed at A, where [latex] {x}_{A}=1.0\,\text{m,} [/latex] is 6.0 m/s. What is its speed at B, where [latex] {x}_{B}=-2.0\,\text{m?} [/latex]

The force on a particle of mass 2.0 kg varies with position according to [latex] F(x)=-3.0{x}^{2} [/latex] (x in meters, F(x) in newtons). The particle’s velocity at [latex] x=2.0\,\text{m} [/latex] is 5.0 m/s. Calculate the mechanical energy of the particle using (a) the origin as the reference point and (b) [latex] x=4.0\,\text{m} [/latex] as the reference point. (c) Find the particle’s velocity at [latex] x=1.0\,\text{m}. [/latex] Do this part of the problem for each reference point.

A 4.0-kg particle moving along the x-axis is acted upon by the force whose functional form appears below. The velocity of the particle at [latex] x=0 [/latex] is [latex] v=6.0\,\text{m/s}. [/latex] Find the particle’s speed at [latex] x=(\text{a})2.0\,\text{m},(\text{b})4.0\,\text{m},(\text{c})10.0\,\text{m},(\text{d}) [/latex] Does the particle turn around at some point and head back toward the origin? (e) Repeat part (d) if [latex] v=2.0\,\text{m/s}\,\text{at}\,x=0. [/latex]

A particle of mass 0.50 kg moves along the x-axis with a potential energy whose dependence on x is shown below. (a) What is the force on the particle at [latex] x=2.0,5.0,8.0,\,\text{and} [/latex] 12 m? (b) If the total mechanical energy E of the particle is −6.0 J, what are the minimum and maximum positions of the particle? (c) What are these positions if [latex] E=2.0\,\text{J?} [/latex] (d) If [latex] E=16\,\text{J} [/latex], what are the speeds of the particle at the positions listed in part (a)?

(a) Sketch a graph of the potential energy function [latex] U(x)=k{x}^{2}\text{/}2+A{e}^{\text{−}\alpha {x}^{2}}, [/latex] where [latex] k,A,\,\text{and}\,\alpha [/latex] are constants. (b) What is the force corresponding to this potential energy? (c) Suppose a particle of mass m moving with this potential energy has a velocity [latex] {v}_{a} [/latex] when its position is [latex] x=a [/latex]. Show that the particle does not pass through the origin unless

[latex] A\le \frac{m{v}_{a}{}^{2}+k{a}^{2}}{2(1-{e}^{\text{−}\alpha {a}^{2}})}. [/latex]

equilibrium point position where the assumed conservative, net force on a particle, given by the slope of its potential energy curve, is zero potential energy diagram graph of a particle’s potential energy as a function of position turning point position where the velocity of a particle, in one-dimensional motion, changes sign

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