# Potential Energy and energy conservation

1. Mar 25, 2008

### kyin01

Hi everyone, so I was going to start on my HW but there was some things confusing me when reading the book.
This is calculus based (feel free to use integrals) and we are on the concept of potential and total mechanical energy and such.

1) This new chapter we are on introduces
Work$$_{grav}$$=mgh$$_{1} -$$mgh$$_{2}$$ (1 being above 2) and

Work$$_{el}$$=.5kx$$_{1}$$ $$^{2}$$ - .5kx$$_{2}$$ $$^{2}$$

However in the previous chapter we were told that W$$_{net}$$=$$\Delta$$K$$_{energy}$$ or W=F$$\bullet$$ $$_{net}$$ $$\vec{s}$$

So my question is, if the Work introduced now the same kind of work as we were told in the previous chapter?
I tried setting an quick example, lets assume we throw a ball of 10kg vertically upwards and it reaches a maximum height of 5m and than goes back down. Gravity is 10$$\frac{m}{s^{2}}$$. So lets pretend no air resistance and such and we are trying to find work.
If I use this equation W=F$$_{net}$$$$\bullet$$$$\vec{s}$$, I get work is = to 50J
but if I use the new equation Work$$_{grav}$$=mgh$$_{1} -$$mgh$$_{2}$$, work is = to 500

So what is it I am not understanding? Are they 2 different kind of work?

2) Is internal energy (U$$_{int}$$) the same as work done by non conservative forces (W$$_{nc}$$)?

edit: i have no idea why the subscripts appear as superscripts, I tried editing and fix but it still appears as superscripts. If it's not clear enough please let me know I'll make them into pictures in MSPaint and post or something

2. Mar 25, 2008

### Staff: Mentor

Sure.
If the ball goes up and down, the net work done by gravity is zero. (The work is negative on the way up, positive on the way down.)

Let's say you want the work done by gravity when a ball falls from a height of 5m to the ground, which is what I think you were calculating.
How did you get this? The force = mg = 100N. If we call the distance h=5m, the work done = mgh = (100)*5 = 500 J.
This also gives you mgh = 500 J.

3. Mar 25, 2008

### kyin01

Ahh, sorry I see it now. Thanks

So is Is internal energy the same as work done by non conservative forces?