Conservative Forces

and Potential Energy

We already know that the Work done by a conservative force is connected to the change in Potential Energy according to

W_c = - U = - ( U_f - U_i )

Even if the conservative force is a varying force, this is true. For such a varying force, we also know

NonConservative Forces			Conservative of Energy
Return to ToC, Ch8, Conservation of Energy

(c) Doug Davis, 2001; all rights reserved