PHY
121
PHY121
Force and Potential Energy. Power
Force
from potential energy
For a conservative force, the path integral of the
force (work) is the difference of potential
energies at the start and end points.
This means that if we know the force at all
points, we can calculate the potential energy at
all points via integration.
But what if we know the potential energy? Can
we tell what the force is?
The fundamental theorem of calculus suggest
that the force must be some kind of derivative of
the potential energy, but we must be careful,
because we are dealing with path integrals.
©
2013
José
Menéndez
1
PHY
121
Getting the force
Fs ds = U ( si ) − U ( sf )
sf
∫ si
Fs ds = U ( s ) − U ( s + ds ) = −dU
This means
dU
Fs = −
ds
The s-component of the force is minus the
derivative of the potential energy in the s-direction.
Gradients U ( x, y + dy )
( x, y + dy )
U ( x, y ) U ( x + dx, y )
( x, y ) ( x + dx, y )
∂U ( x, y, z ) ∂U ( x, y, z ) ∂U ( x, y, z )
Fx = − Fy = − Fz = −
∂x ∂y ∂z
Use partial derivative Use partial derivative Use partial derivative
notation to indicate notation to indicate notation to indicate
that y and z are held that x and z are held that x and y are held
constant in the x- constant in the y- constant in the z-
path. path. path.
©
2013
José
Menéndez
2
PHY
121
Gravitational U
and the gravity force Ugrav, Fy mgy
FG
FG
y
−mg
FG
∂U y ∂
Fy = − = − [ mgy ] = −mg
∂s ∂y
Elastic U
and the spring force
k ( Δs )
1 2
2
U, Fs
Fsp Fsp
−kΔs Fsp Fsp
Δs
dU s d
= − ⎡ 21 k ( s − se ) ⎤ = −k ( s − se ) = −kΔs
2
Fs = −
ds ds ⎣ ⎦
©
2013
José
Menéndez
3
PHY
121
Molecular potential
∂U
Fr = −
r ∂r
F
F
Repulsive forces F Weak attractive force
Strong attractive force
F
Zero force, equilibrium separation
Energy diagrams
K + U = Emech
Stops here
Forbidden region
K<0?
Emech
K
K U
U
©
2013
José
Menéndez
4
PHY
121
Time
is money
ma y = ( mg + δ F ) − mg = δ F
d y1
F1
y1 = y0 + 12 a y ( t1 − t0 )
0 y0 FG ⎛δF⎞ 2
t0 = 0s d = 12 ⎜ ⎟ t1
⎝ m ⎠
F1 = mg + δ F 2md
⇒ t1 =
δF
Power
We define a quantity called power as
Work done by the force
dW
P=
dt Time needed to do
the work
But W = ∫ F ⋅ d r ⇒ dW = F ⋅ d r
So dW F ⋅ dr
P= =
dt
dt
P = F ⋅v
©
2013
José
Menéndez
5
PHY
121
Power
The unit of power is J/s. Its name is
“watt”, and its symbol is W.
Power, like work, is a scalar, and it can
have positive, zero, or negative values.
In most applications, you don’t need to
calculate a derivative. If questions are
about the average power, you just
calculate the work and divide by the time
it took to perform it Pavg = W / Δt.
Example
An object is accelerated from rest
by a force that delivers constant
power. What is the time
dependence of its position, velocity,
and acceleration?
©
2013
José
Menéndez
6
PHY
121
Pictorial
model
v=0 v n Fnet
FG FP
a
v x
P = constant = C = FP ⋅ v = ( FP )x vx ⇒ ( FP )x = C vx
0
dvx C
max = m = ( FP )x =
dt vx
Integration tf
C
vx dvx = dt x ( tf ) = ∫ vx ( t ) dt
m 0
vfx tf tf
C 2C 1 2 2 2C 3 2
∫ vx dvx =
0
m ∫0
dt =
m ∫0
t dt = t
3 m f
For any time t:
vfx2 Ctf
= 2 2C 3 2
2 m x (t ) = t
For any time t: 3 m
vx ( t ) = 2Ct
dvx C −1 2
ax = = t
m dt 2m
©
2013
José
Menéndez
7
PHY
121
Assessment
Infinite force
needed at t = 0.
Not realistic for a Position
car.
Less and less force
needed as velocity
increases, because
displacement (work)
increases Velocity
Acceleration
Summary
We showed that if we know the potential energy
as a function of position, we can obtain the
corresponding force from a simple directional
derivative.
Energy diagrams are extremely useful to
understand motion.
Power measures how fast work is done.
©
2013
José
Menéndez
8
