Question #d603e

Question

2446 views around the world

You can reuse this answer
Creative Commons License

Answer 1 · 2015-04-28T23:41:10

For a simple pendulum, it's is not often easy to find potential.

On the other hand, it is easier and for most cases, more useful to find the change in potential energy

enter image source here

That is, #Delta"Pe"# instead of just #"Pe"#

#Delta"Pe" = mgDeltah#
#m =# mass
#g=# acceleration due to gravity
#Deltah = # change in height above the ground

But in fact, if we know the position of the ball above the ground, them we can calculate the Potential energy as #"Pe"=mgx_1# for example!

#Delta"Pe"# is more of interest because we can conserve energy.
Like this,
#mgDeltah=1/2mDeltav^2#