Work, Energy and Power for a Particle moving in a Potential Field

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the concepts of work, energy, and power in the context of a particle moving within a potential field. Participants are examining the relationship between potential energy, kinetic energy, and total mechanical energy.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Some participants express confusion regarding the implications of potential energy equaling total energy, questioning how motion can occur if kinetic energy is zero. Others provide examples to illustrate that a particle can momentarily stop, prompting further reflection on the nature of motion in potential fields.

Discussion Status

The discussion is active, with participants exploring different interpretations of energy states and motion. Some have offered clarifications and examples, but there is no explicit consensus on the correctness of the book's answer.

Contextual Notes

Participants are grappling with the definitions and implications of energy conservation in a potential field, particularly in relation to the conditions under which a particle may stop or continue moving.

Rongeet Banerjee
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Homework Statement
A particle with total Energy E is moving in a potential energy region U(x).Motion of the particle is restricted to the region when
1.U((x) greater than E
2.U(x) less than E
3.U(x) = E
4.U(x) less than or equal to E
Relevant Equations
Total Energy=Potential Energy+Kinetic Energy
15866407852351629022995.jpg

But yet again my text says that option 4 is correct.
 
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It looks like you got option 4b there!
 
Oh yes I corrected it.
 
I don't understand that how can motion take place if U(x) becomes equal to E(x).KE in that case should be zero.So is the answer printed in my book wrong?
 
Rongeet Banerjee said:
I don't understand that how can motion take place if U(x) becomes equal to E(x).KE in that case should be zero.So is the answer printed in my book wrong?
A particle can stop! Think of a ball thrown up against gravity. It stops instantaneously and at that point its KE is zero.
 
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PeroK said:
A particle can stop! Think of a ball thrown up against gravity. It stops instantaneously and at that point its KE is zero.
Oh so "motion of the particle is resticted to the region "meant that!Truly I am so humbled.
 

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