The discussion centers on the concept of negative energy in relation to pendulums and gravity. Participants question whether "absorbing" negative energy can counteract the upward momentum of a pendulum. The consensus emphasizes the importance of mathematical understanding and experimental results, asserting that while negative energy can be mathematically represented, it does not align with conventional physics interpretations. Newtonian mechanics is suggested as a simpler framework for exploring these concepts.
PREREQUISITESPhysics students, educators, and anyone interested in the theoretical implications of energy concepts in mechanics.
Write down the actual math. Is there any "energy" in it that is negative? (Hint: you can write down the math so that there is, but it won't mean what you seem to think it means.) You can even use the Newtonian math, which is simpler.Paige_Turner said:Does "absorbing" negative energy from gravity cancel the upward momentum of the pendulum?