Recent content by SharKCS11

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    Undergrad Negative Force-potential energy relationship?

    Ok, thanks. That cleared up a lot.
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    Undergrad Negative Force-potential energy relationship?

    Oh, I see, so the "F" in the equation is referring to the force that causes the potential energy, not the force that changes it?
  3. S

    Undergrad Negative Force-potential energy relationship?

    I've been wondering for a while why force is the negative derivative of potential energy. In our books, they write that F=-dU/dx, and U=-W I don't really understand why it should be negative. Doesn't the force need to be positive in order to increase the potential energy? For example, when you...