Electrostatic Potential and Capacitance Quiz

Potential energy is the stored energy of a body when an external force does work in taking the body from one point to another against a force. When the external force is removed, the body gains kinetic energy and loses an equal amount of potential energy. The sum of kinetic and potential energies is conserved. Conservative forces, such as spring force, gravitational force, and Coulomb force, have inverse-square dependence on distance and conserve energy.

A conservative force conserves energy, meaning the total mechanical energy of a system remains constant. Examples of conservative forces include spring force, gravitational force, and Coulomb force. Non-conservative forces, on the other hand, do not conserve energy and can dissipate energy from a system. Friction is an example of a non-conservative force.

When an external force does work in taking a body from one point to another against a force, potential energy is stored in the body. When the external force is removed, the body gains kinetic energy and loses an equal amount of potential energy. The sum of kinetic and potential energies is conserved.

<p>The Coulomb force between two charges and the gravitational force between two masses have similar characteristics. Both forces have an inverse-square dependence on distance and are conservative forces. The main difference is that the proportionality constants differ - the masses in the gravitational law are replaced by charges in Coulomb's law.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Two examples of conservative forces are spring force and gravitational force.</p> Signup and view all the answers