- #1
Jamieee
- 2
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A ball is moved from point A to point B, to point C, to point D, to point E, and back to point A. So, to make things easier... here's a diagram of the problem.
http://img181.imageshack.us/img181/125/conservativeforcesvy3.jpg
We were asked to prove (mathematically) the concept that gravity (in this diagram) is a conservative force, and why the angle in the diagram is disregarded.
The following equations were given (and I don't really understand them
)...
W = W (A to B) + W (B to C) + W (C to D) + W (D to E) + W (E to A)
W = 0 + (-mgh) + 0 + (-mgh) + (mgh)
W = 0 <--- This has to be proven as well.
I'm also wondering why W (D to E) became (-mgh) instead of Fxcos(theta).
Help please... Thanks in advance!
--- Jamie
http://img181.imageshack.us/img181/125/conservativeforcesvy3.jpg
We were asked to prove (mathematically) the concept that gravity (in this diagram) is a conservative force, and why the angle in the diagram is disregarded.
The following equations were given (and I don't really understand them
W = W (A to B) + W (B to C) + W (C to D) + W (D to E) + W (E to A)
W = 0 + (-mgh) + 0 + (-mgh) + (mgh)
W = 0 <--- This has to be proven as well.
I'm also wondering why W (D to E) became (-mgh) instead of Fxcos(theta).
Help please... Thanks in advance!
--- Jamie
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