Phy 340 class notes for Fall, 1999

Aug 25	Sep 8	Oct 4	Nov 1	Phy 340 page
Aug 30	Sep 13	Oct 11	Nov 8
	Sep 20	Oct 18	Nov 15
	Sep 27	Oct 25	Nov 22
			Nov 29

Phy 340, Week 3

Develop the simplest form of the work-energy theorem and conservation of energy. The potential energy as related to F_x.

10 Sep For a force that is a function of position only, the potential energy is related to the force component by F_x = - dV / dx. You can use this to solve for the position as a function of time. Once you have the conservation of energy equation, relating x and v_x, you can apply the method of separation of variables. This technique works if you can manipulate all the x's to one side of the equation and all the t's to the other. I worked out the example of throwing an object straight up in a uniform gravitational field. This eventually led to an equation for x( t ). (Not the easiest way to sove this problem.)

Graphical interpretation of the potential energy, and how you can use it to gain qualitativeinsight into the motion of a mass.