Appendix 4

Conservative forces and potential energy

Notes on conservative forces

If the work done by a force in moving a particle from
position 1 to postion 2 is independent of the path taken
(see Fig. A4.1) then the force is said to be conservative.

Figure A4.3

Figure A4.1 ( 2 )
F,dr+ F,+-dr (r+dr)d8

A
If..ds = B 1 2 F - d s= -
1 B I’
2
F.ds ( 2 )
= F e r d e + Fr+-d8 dr

thus
A
I f F . d s + B l ’2F . d s = O
therefore
(2) 2
F,+ - r =- (A4.3)

or the integral around a closed path is zero: Potentialenergy

Potential energy is defined as
$F.ds =0 (A4.1)
V = -JF.ds+constant
= - J F,dx - J Fydy +constant
dV
= - F - d s = -Fxdx-Fydy

But, from the theory of differentials,

av av
dV = -dx +- dy
- 4 ax ay
Figure A4.2 hence
For an element of path (Fig. A4.2), the work done

1
along path ABC must equal that along path ADC, thus F, = --

F,,dy+ F +-dy
( 1 ; ) dx and

F =-- ”,”
av
(A4.4)

=F,dx+ F,+-dx

aF,
aF,
(2) dy y dY

therefore - - - (A4.2)
ax ay
In polar co-ordinates (Fig. A4.3),
 Potential energy 253

In polar co-ordinates, For a uniform gravitation field -a,

d V = -F,dr-FOrdO V = mgy + constant (A4.6)
av av For an inverse-square-law field, - ( g r 2 ) e, where
but dV=-dr+ -d0 p = a constant,
ar ao
av V = --
P
+ constant
hence F,= -- r
(A4.7)
ar
and (A4.5) For a linear spring with a stiffness k,
V = 4ka2 (A4.8)
where 6 is the extension of the spring.