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5 HW
7.47.5 HW
Due: 7:59am on Monday, March 19, 2018
You will receive no credit for items you complete after the assignment is due. Grading Policy
Potential Energy Calculations
Learning Goal:
To understand the relationship between the force and the potential energy changes associated with that force and to be able to
calculate the changes in potential energy as definite integrals.
Imagine that a conservative force field is defined in a certain region of space. Does this sound too abstract? Well, think of a
gravitational field (the one that makes apples fall down and keeps the planets orbiting) or an electrostatic field existing around
any electrically charged object.
If a particle is moving in such a field, its change in potential energy does not depend on the particle's path and is determined only
by the particle's initial and final positions. Recall that, in general, the component of the net force acting on a particle equals the
negative derivative of the potential energy function along the corresponding axis:
dU (x)
Fx = − .
dx
Therefore, the change in potential energy can be found as the integral
2
⃗
ΔU = − ∫ F ⋅ ds ,⃗
1
⃗
where ΔU is the change in potential energy for a particle moving from point 1 to point 2, F is the net force acting on the particle
at a given point of its path, and ds is a small displacement of the particle along its path from 1 to 2.
⃗
Evaluating such an integral in a general case can be a tedious and lengthy task. However, two circumstances make it easier:
1. Because the result is pathindependent, it is always possible to consider the most straightforward way to reach
point 2 from point 1.
2. The most common realworld fields are rather simply defined.
In this problem, you will practice calculating the change in potential energy for a particle moving in three common force fields.
Note that, in the equations for the forces, ^i is the unit vector in the x direction, ^
j is the unit vector in the y direction, and r
^ is the
unit vector in the radial direction in case of a spherically symmetrical force field.
Part A
Consider a uniform gravitational field (a fair approximation near the surface of a planet). Find
yf
⃗
U (y ) − U (y ) = − ∫ F g ⋅ ds ,⃗
f 0 y
0
where
⃗ ^
F g = −mg j and ds ⃗ = ^
dy j .
Express your answer in terms of m, g, y0 , and yf .
⃗
F g ⋅ ds ⃗ = −mg dy .
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ANSWER:
U (y ) − U (y )
f 0
= mg(y
f
−y )
0
Correct
Part B
Consider the force exerted by a spring that obeys Hooke's law. Find
xf
⃗
U (x f ) − U (x 0 ) = − ∫ F s ⋅ ds ,⃗
x0
where
⃗ ^
F s = −kx i ,
^
ds ⃗ = dx i ,
and the spring constant k is positive.
Express your answer in terms of k, x0 , and xf .
⃗
F s ⋅ ds ⃗ = −kx dx .
ANSWER:
Correct
Part C
Finally, consider the gravitational force generated by a spherically symmetrical massive object. The magnitude and direction
of such a force are given by Newton's law of gravity:
Gm 1 m 2
⃗
FG = − ^,
r
r2
where ds ⃗ = ^ G m
dr r ; ,
1 , and m2 are constants; and r > 0 . Find
rf
⃗
U (rf ) − U (r0 ) = − ∫ F G ⋅ ds .⃗
r0
⃗
Hint 1. Relative directions of F G and ds ⃗
⃗
Note that F G and ds are parallel, and their dot product is simply the product of their magnitudes. That is,
⃗
Gm 1 m 2
⃗
F G ⋅ ds ⃗ = − dr .
r2
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Hint 2. Integrating 1/r 2
Recall that
dr 1
∫ =−
r
.
r2
Carefully account for all the negative signs in your calculations.
ANSWER:
1 1
U (rf ) − U (r0 ) = −Gm1 m2 (
rf
−
r0
)
Correct
As you can see, the change in potential energy of the particle can be found by integrating the force along the
particle's path. However, this method, as we mentioned before, does have an important restriction: It can only be
applied to a conservative force field. For conservative forces such as gravity or tension the work done on the
particle does not depend on the particle's path, and the potential energy is the function of the particle's position.
In case of a nonconservative forcesuch as a frictional or magnetic forcethe potential energy can no longer be
defined as a function of the particle's position, and the method that you used in this problem would not be
applicable.
Exercise 7.36
An object moving in the xy plane is acted on by a conservative force described by the potentialenergy function
U (x, y) = α(1/x + 1/y ), where α is a positive constant.
2 2
Part A
⃗ ^ ^
Derive an expression for the force F expressed in terms of the unit vectors i and j .
Express your answer in terms of the given quantities.
ANSWER:
⃗
1 ^ 1 ^
F = 2α(
x3
i+
y3
j)
Correct
Exercise 7.34
Part A
What is the magnitude of the force that one atom exerts on the other?
Express your answer in terms of the variables C6 and x.
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3/18/2018 7.4-7.5 HW
ANSWER:
6C6
F =
x7
Correct
Part B
Is this force attractive or repulsive?
ANSWER:
attractive
repulsive
Correct
Potential Energy Graphs and Motion
Learning Goal:
To be able to interpret potential energy diagrams and predict the corresponding motion of a particle.
Potential energy diagrams for a particle are useful in predicting the motion of that particle. These diagrams allow one to
determine the direction of the force acting on the particle at any point, the points of stable and unstable equilibrium, the particle's
kinetic energy, etc.
Consider the potential energy diagram shown. The curve represents
the value of potential energy U as a function of the particle's
coordinate x. The horizontal line above the curve represents the
constant value of the total energy of the particle E . The total energy E
is the sum of kinetic (K ) and potential (U ) energies of the particle.
The key idea in interpreting the graph can be expressed in the
equation
dU (x)
F x (x) = − ,
dx
If you are still having trouble visualizing this, consider the following: If a massive particle is increasing its gravitational potential
energy (that is, moving upward), the force of gravity is pulling in the opposite direction (that is, downward).
If the x component of the net force is zero, the particle is said to be in equilibrium. There are two kinds of equilibrium:
Stable equilibrium means that small deviations from the equilibrium point create a net force that accelerates the
particle back toward the equilibrium point (think of a ball rolling between two hills).
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Unstable equilibrium means that small deviations from the equilibrium point create a net force that accelerates the
particle further away from the equilibrium point (think of a ball on top of a hill).
In answering the following questions, we will assume that there is a single varying force F acting on the particle along the x axis.
Therefore, we will use the term force instead of the cumbersome x component of the net force.
Part A
The force acting on the particle at point A is __________.
Hint 1. Sign of the derivative
If a function increases (as x increases) in a certain region, then the derivative of the function in that region is positive.
Hint 2. Sign of the component
If x increases to the right, as in the graph shown, then a (onedimensional) vector with a positive x component points
to the right, and vice versa.
ANSWER:
directed to the right
directed to the left
equal to zero
Correct
Consider the graph in the region of point A. If the particle is moving to the right, it would be "climbing the hill," and
the force would "pull it down," that is, pull the particle back to the left. Another, more abstract way of thinking about
⃗
this is to say that the slope of the graph at point A is positive; therefore, the direction of F is negative.
Part B
The force acting on the particle at point C is __________.
Hint 1. Sign of the derivative
If a function increases (as x increases) in a certain region, then the derivative of the function in that region is positive,
and vice versa.
Hint 2. Sign of the component
If x increases to the right, as in the graph shown, then a (onedimensional) vector with a positive x component points
to the right, and vice versa.
ANSWER:
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directed to the right
directed to the left
equal to zero
Correct
Part C
The force acting on the particle at point B is __________.
Hint 1. Derivative of a function at a local maximum
At a local maximum, the derivative of a function is equal to zero.
ANSWER:
directed to the right
directed to the left
equal to zero
Correct
Part D
The acceleration of the particle at point B is __________.
Hint 1. Relation between acceleration and force
The relation between acceleration and force is given by Newton's 2nd law,
F = ma.
ANSWER:
directed to the right
directed to the left
equal to zero
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Correct
If the net force is zero, so is the acceleration. The particle is said to be in a state of equilibrium.
Part E
If the particle is located slightly to the left of point B, its acceleration is __________.
Hint 1. The force on such a particle
To the left of B, U (x) is an increasing function and so its derivative is positive. This implies that the x component of
the force on a particle at this location is negative, or that the force is directed to the left, just like at A. What can you
say now about the acceleration?
ANSWER:
directed to the right
directed to the left
equal to zero
Correct
Part F
If the particle is located slightly to the right of point B, its acceleration is __________.
Hint 1. The force on such a particle
To the right of B, U (x) is a decreasing function and so its derivative is negative. This implies that the x component of
the force on a particle at this location is positive, or that the force is directed to the right, just like at C . What can you
now say about the acceleration?
ANSWER:
directed to the right
directed to the left
equal to zero
Correct
As you can see, small deviations from equilibrium at point B cause a force that accelerates the particle further
away; hence the particle is in unstable equilibrium.
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Part G
Name all labeled points on the graph corresponding to unstable equilibrium.
List your choices alphabetically, with no commas or spaces; for instance, if you choose points B, D, and E , type
your answer as BDE.
Hint 1. Definition of unstable equilibrium
Unstable equilibrium means that small deviations from the equilibrium point create a net force that accelerates the
particle further away from the equilibrium point (think of a ball on top of a hill).
ANSWER:
BF
Correct
Part H
Name all labeled points on the graph corresponding to stable equilibrium.
List your choices alphabetically, with no commas or spaces; for instance, if you choose points B, D, and E , type
your answer as BDE.
Hint 1. Definition of stable equilibrium
Stable equilibrium means that small deviations from the equilibrium point create a net force that accelerates the
particle back toward the equilibrium point. (Think of a ball rolling between two hills.)
ANSWER:
DH
Correct
Part I
Name all labeled points on the graph where the acceleration of the particle is zero.
List your choices alphabetically, with no commas or spaces; for instance, if you choose points B, D, and E , type
your answer as BDE.
Hint 1. Relation between acceleration and force
The relation between acceleration and force is given by Newton's 2nd law,
F = ma.
ANSWER:
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BDFH
Correct
Your answer, of course, includes the locations of both stable and unstable equilibrium.
Part J
Name all labeled points such that when a particle is released from rest there, it would accelerate to the left.
List your choices alphabetically, with no commas or spaces; for instance, if you choose points B, D, and E , type
your answer as BDE.
Hint 1. Determine the sign of the x component of force
If the acceleration is to the left, so is the force. This means that the x component of the force is __________.
ANSWER:
positive
negative
Hint 2. What is the behavior of U (x)?
If the x component of the force at a point is negative, then the derivative of U (x) at that point is positive. This means
that in the region around the point U (x) is __________.
ANSWER:
increasing
decreasing
ANSWER:
AE
Correct
Part K
Consider points A, E , and G. Of these three points, which one corresponds to the greatest magnitude of acceleration of the
particle?
Hint 1. Acceleration and force
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The greatest acceleration corresponds to the greatest magnitude of the net force, represented on the graph by the
magnitude of the slope.
ANSWER:
A
E
Correct
Kinetic energy
K = E −U .
As a reminder, on this graph, the total energy E is shown by the horizontal line.
Part L
What point on the graph corresponds to the maximum kinetic energy of the moving particle?
ANSWER:
Correct
It makes sense that the kinetic energy of the particle is maximum at one of the (force) equilibrium points. For
example, think of a pendulum (which has only one force equilibrium pointat the very bottom).
Part M
At what point on the graph does the particle have the lowest speed?
ANSWER:
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Correct
As you can see, many different conclusions can be made about the particle's motion merely by looking at the
graph. It is helpful to understand the character of motion qualitatively before you attempt quantitative problems.
This problem should prove useful in improving such an understanding.
Exercise 7.39
The potential energy of two atoms in a diatomic molecule is approximated by U (r) 12
= a/r
6
− b/r , where r is the spacing
between atoms and a and b are positive constants.
Part A
Find the force F (r)on one atom as a function of r.
Express your answer in terms of the variables a, b, and r.
ANSWER:
12a 6b
F (r) = −
r13 r7
Correct
Part B
Find the equilibrium distance between the two atoms.
Express your answer in terms of the variables a and b.
ANSWER:
−−
2a
rmin = 6
√
b
Correct
Part C
Is this equilibrium stable?
ANSWER:
yes
no
Correct
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Part D
Suppose the distance between the two atoms is equal to the equilibrium distance found in part B. What minimum energy
must be added to the molecule to dissociate itthat is, to separate the two atoms to an infinite distance apart? This is called
the dissociation energy of the molecule.
Express your answer in terms of the variables a and b.
ANSWER:
E0 = b
4a
Correct
Part E
ANSWER:
Correct
Part F
Find the value of the constant b.
ANSWER:
Correct
Score Summary:
Your score on this assignment is 97.4%.
You received 4.87 out of a possible total of 5 points.
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