Here's a brief review of the idea behind potential energy:
One of the most common examples of potential energy is Gravitational Potential Energy (GPE). And the most fun you can have (legally) with gravitational potential energy is ... using it in rollercoasters!
Let's make a little rollercoaster and see if all this theory actually works ...
Some problems can be attacked either via forces or via energy ....
If you finish early, consider this rather slippery problem.
Hint: draw a big picture, and assign symbolic values like m, R, etc., to any quantities that you think might be relevant. Consider both conservation of energy and the motion of an object in a circular path ...
Copyright © Michael Richmond.
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