ASTR-1010 Lecture 5: ASTR 1010 Lecture 5: Lecture 5: Potential Energy
19 Feb 2017
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Document Summary
Gravitational potential energy is the energy which an object stores due to its ability to fall. It depends on: the o(cid:271)je(cid:272)t"s (cid:373)ass (cid:894)(cid:373)(cid:895, the strength of gravity (g, the distance from the center of gravity (d) This mass-energy is what would be released if an amount of mass, m, were converted into energy c= 3 x 10^8 m/s is the speed of light, m is in kg; e is in joules. It can change its form or be exchanged between objects. Energy can be neither created nor destroyed. This is fundamental to all of science. The total energy content of the universe was determined in the big bang and remains the same today. Q: when i drive my car at 30 mph, it has more kinetic energy than it does at 10 mph. A: yes, it has 9x as much kinetic energy. Q: in particle accelerators, scientists can create participles where none existed previously by converting energy into mass.
