Force and Potential Energy - Njit力、势能-新泽西理工学院.pptVIP

* * * * * * * * Physics 430: Lecture 8 Force and Potential Energy Dale E. Gary NJIT Physics Department September 23, 2010 We have seen that the potential energy U(r) corresponding to a force F(r) can be expressed as an integral of F(r). It should come as no surprise, then, that we can write F(r) as some kind of derivative of U(r), although we have to preserve the effect of the dot product in the integral, which turns the integral of F into a scalar. In other words, we need a derivative that turns the scalar U into a vector. A concept from vector calculus fills the bill—the gradient. Consider a particle acted on by a conservative force F(r), with corresponding potential energy U(r). The work done by F(r) in a small displacement from r to r + dr is: On the other hand, from the definition of potential energy it is also But from the definition of a derivative 4.3 Forces as Gradient of PE September 23, 2010 This suggests that we can write where the derivatives of U are now partial derivatives with respect to x, y, z. [For example, is the rate of change of U as x changes, keeping y and z fixed.] Equating the two alternative ways of writing we have where the operator is pronounced “grad.” It takes a scalar “field” such as U, and results in a vector pointing “uphill.” Note that the force, being , points “downhill.” Gradient of Potential Energy September 23, 2010 Scalar Fields A scalar field is just one where a quantity in “space” is represented by numbers, such as this temperature map. Here is another scalar field, height of a mountain. Contours Side View Contours close together steeper Contours far apart flatter September 23, 2010 Vector Fields A vector field is one where a quantity in “space” is represented by both magnitude and direction, i.e by vectors. The vector field bears a close relationship to the contours (lines of constant potential energy). The steeper the gradient, the larger