Example - Energy conservation and the loop the loop (4 min)

Example - Sliding down hill then friction (10 min)

Example - Sliding underneath incline (12 min)

Summary

The work energy theorem, combined with knowledge of potential energy functions, allows for the construction of the final form of the conservation energy equation. The goal is to apply the conservation of energy equation to various systems and understand the transformational nature of energy.

Atomistic Goals

Students will be able to...

1. Define a system and identify internal and external objects, forces, and work.
2. Show that conservative forces yield work that is independent of the path taken.
3. Identify conservative and non-conservative forces and work.
4. (UPMF) Use the independence of path for conservative work to create a function of position to account for conservative work. We call that
5. function a potential energy function for all internal conservative work.
6. Construct the final form of the work-energy theorem using the concept of potential energy.
7. Show that energy is conserved for systems where the net external work is zero. 
8. Show that application of an energy analysis involves bookkeeping an initial and final state of the system.
9. Use the gravitational potential energy function, for near Earth objects, in an energy analysis. 
10. Use the spring potential energy function for Hooke's law springs in an energy analysis.
11. Construct the graphical representation depicting the kinetic, potential, thermal, and total energy as a function of position. 
12. (UPMF) When non-conservative work is internal to a system, there is a form of energy associated with that work and it is not called potential energy. E.g. work done by friction converting macroscopic kinetic energy to microscopic kinetic energy (aka thermal energy)
13. Identify other forms of energy such as thermal, chemical potential, electric potential, sound, light, … etc.
14. Identify energy transformations within a system and energy transfers into/out of a system.
15. Apply a conservation of energy equation for a system from its initial to final state.
16. Apply conservation of energy to system with multiple internal objects.
17. Define elastic collisions and apply a conservation of energy and momentum analysis to the collision. 
18. Define inelastic collisions and apply a conservation of energy and momentum analysis to the collision.
19. Derive the relationship between kinetic energy and momentum.

You may have seen this skate park simulation before. Make sure to turn on either the bar chart or pie chart to see how energy is either conserved or turned into thermal energy (if friction is turned on).

For additional simulations on this subject, visit the simulations repository.

 For additional demos involving this subject, visit the demo repository

Oh no, we haven't been able to write up a history overview for this topic. If you'd like to contribute, contact the director of BoxSand, KC Walsh (walshke@oregonstate.edu).

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This link provides analysis of a few examples for which energy is conserved.

This link is a thorough summary of conservation of energy and how it relates kinetic and potential energy.

A couple more examples of conservation of energy applied.

Other Resources

This link will take you to the repository of other content related resources.

Multiple Representations is the concept that a physical phenomena can be expressed in different ways. 

Physical

Mathematical

Graphical

Descriptive

Experimental