Transcript Energy Curves
Energy Curves Roller Coaster Track A cart at point A has potential energy. A cart at point B has converted potential energy into kinetic energy. A C B At C the kinetic energy is being converted back into potential energy. Clearing the Hill x1 x2 A cart that starts at x1 can climb no further than x2 before it stops. The potential energy is the same at both points. At both points there is no energy left for kinetic energy. Potential Energy Curve The potential energy can be displayed as a graph. • For height, U = mgh. U x Turning Points The total energy of a system is constant. • A constant horizontal line of energy E The point where the energy is all potential are the turning points. U E x1 x2 x Well and Barrier An object with energy E cannot go outside the range from x1 to x2. The object is trapped in a potential well. The hill at C is a potential barrier. U C E x1 x2 x Equilibrium At the minimum point in the curve, an object cannot gain kinetic energy. There is no velocity, and the object is at rest. The object is at equilibrium. U C E x0 x Spring Constant Curve The spring force has a potential energy U = ½ kx2 . U U x Near the minimum all curves are approximately a spring force. x Universal Gravitational Curve Universal gravitational potential energy also can be plotted as a curve. GmM U r This object will escape the gravitational potential. U E1 r E2 This object is trapped by the gravitational potential.