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Potential energy curves
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Minima are stable equilibria, maxima are unstable.
A plot of U versus position shows the motion: the particle is confined between turning points where U = E, the speed is high where U is low, and minima are equilibrium points.
A ball in a bowl rolls back and forth between turning points.
The total energy line is horizontal.
In more detail
A potential energy curve plots energy against position. Its shape shows where the object is in equilibrium and whether it oscillates or escapes.
Real-world uses
- Chemists plot potential energy curves to study bond lengths.
- Designers use them to predict oscillations in mechanical systems.
- A ball resting in a bowl sits at a minimum of potential energy, while the same ball on a hilltop sits at a maximum.
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Frequently asked questions
What is a potential well?
A dip in the curve where an object can be trapped if its energy is below the walls.
What is a turning point?
A point where the total energy equals the potential energy, so the kinetic energy is zero.
Why is a potential maximum unstable?
A small nudge takes the system downhill, away from the maximum, so it does not return on its own.
Related topics in Work, Energy & Power
Conservative forces · Non-conservative forces · Force from potential energy · Equilibrium types · Conservation of mechanical energy · Energy conservation in free fall