Re: The concept of potential energy.

[Jim Green <JMGreen@SISNA.COM>]

>          If we agree that this is a good definition of potencial
> energy, then it follows that
>
>                   Delta W = - grad U dot ds
>
>           As you see, it will be very difficult to isolate the
> analysis of the notion of potential energy and the notion of work.
>
>           Dario Moreno

True enough, Dario, but it is easier than that:

IntFidx= deltaKE
IntFjdx + IntFkdx = deltaKE

If IntFkdx is conservative this work IS -PE

Thus IntFjdx (non-conservative work) == W = delta KE + deltaPE (ie
conservative work)

I still feel silly posting this -- Don't we all teach this to introduce
that concept of work?

What am I missing???

Jim Green
mailto:JMGreen@sisna.com
http://users.sisna.com/jmgreen