EnergyConservation 1

Potential Energy and Energy Conservation

Potential energy is stored energy due to position or configuration. Like work and kinetic energy, the unit
of potential energy is Joule.

Gravitational Potential Energy

When a particle is in the gravitational field of the earth, there is a gravitational potential energy
associated with the particle. Mathematically, we write
𝑈𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑣 = 𝑚𝑔𝑦. (7.1)
Here, m is the mass of the particle, g is the acceleration due to gravity (9.81m/s2), and y is the vertical
coordinate of the particle. Note that y is defined with respect to an arbitrary point. Thus, the amount of
gravitational potential energy depends on the choice of reference point. Because of this, it is more
physically meaningful to define the change in gravitational potential energy:
∆𝑈𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑣 = 𝑚𝑔𝑦2 − 𝑚𝑔𝑦1 = 𝑚𝑔∆𝑦, (7.2)
where 𝑦1 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑦2 are the initial and final positions of the particle.
Work done by Gravitational Potential Energy
Consider an object that is raised from an initial height of 𝑦1 to a final height of 𝑦2 . Since the final
position is higher than the initial position, the change in gravitational potential energy is positive
(∆𝑈𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑣 > 0). The work done on the object by the gravitational force is:
𝑊𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑣 = ⃗𝑭𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒗 ∙ 𝒔
⃗ = 𝑚𝑔(𝑦2 − 𝑦1 ) cos 𝜃 = − 𝑚𝑔∆𝑦 = −∆𝑈𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑣 ,
where the negative sign comes from the fact that the direction of the displacement (upward) is opposite
the direction of the acceleration due to gravity (downward) making the angle 𝜃 between them 180°.
Since 𝑦2 > 𝑦1 (i.e. the object is raised), the magnitude of the displacement is 𝑦2 − 𝑦1 . Thus, the work
done is negative (𝑊𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑣 < 0).
Next, consider an object that is lowered from an initial height of 𝑦1 to a final height of 𝑦2 . Now the
change in gravitational potential energy is negative (∆𝑈𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑣 < 0) since the initial position is higher than
the final position. The work done on the object by gravitational force is:
⃗ 𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒗 ∙ 𝒔
𝑊𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑣 = 𝑭 ⃗ = 𝑚𝑔(𝑦1 − 𝑦2 ) cos 𝜃 = − 𝑚𝑔∆𝑦 = −∆𝑈𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑣 .
Here, the negative sign comes from the fact that 𝑦2 < 𝑦1 (i.e. the object is lowered), making the
magnitude of the displacement 𝑦1 − 𝑦2 . The direction of the displacement (downward) is indirection of
the acceleration due to gravity (downward) making the angle 𝜃 between them 0°. Thus, the work done
is positive (𝑊𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑣 > 0).
Thus, the work done by a gravitational force on an object is:
𝑊𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑣 = −∆𝑈𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑣 (7.3)

SEF005 Queen Mary University of London

Mechanics and Materials School of Physics and Astronomy
 EnergyConservation 2

Conservation of Mechanical Energy (Gravitational Forces Only)

Recall that the work-energy theorem states that the total work done on an object is equal to the change
in kinetic energy of the object: 𝑊𝑡𝑜𝑡 = ∆𝐾 = 𝐾2 − 𝐾1 . If gravity is the only force acting on the object,
we can equate this equation to (7.3) to get
∆𝐾 = −∆𝑈𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑣
𝐾2 − 𝐾1 = 𝑈𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑣,1 − 𝑈𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑣,2
which can be rewritten as
𝐾1 + 𝑈𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑣,1 = 𝐾2 + 𝑈𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑣,2 . (7.4)
The sum of the potential and kinetic energies is called the total mechanical energy:
𝐸𝑚𝑒𝑐ℎ = 𝐾 + 𝑈𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑣
𝐸𝑚𝑒𝑐ℎ,1 = K1 + 𝑈𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑣,1
𝐸𝑚𝑒𝑐ℎ,2 = 𝐾2 + 𝑈𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑣,2 . (7.5)
Comparing equations (7.4) and (7.5) we see that 𝐸𝑚𝑒𝑐ℎ,1 = 𝐸𝑚𝑒𝑐ℎ,2 . That is, when the only force acting
on an object is gravity, the total mechanical energy of the object is constant. The total mechanical
energy is considered a conserved quantity, since it always has the same value. This is an example of the
conservation of mechanical energy.
Example: A book (mass m) falls from rest a distance h, but has not yet hit the floor. What are ∆𝑈𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑣 ,
∆𝐾, and ∆𝐸𝑚𝑒𝑐ℎ ?
The change in gravitational potential energy is:
∆𝑈𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑣 = 𝑚𝑔(𝑦2 − 𝑦2 ) = −𝑚𝑔ℎ
The change in kinetic energy is
∆𝐾 = 12𝑚(𝑣2 2 − 𝑣1 2 ) = 12𝑚𝑣2 2 .
We use the kinematic equation 𝑣2 2 = 𝑣1 2 + 2𝑔(𝑦2 − 𝑦1 ) to get
∆𝐾 12𝑚(2𝑔ℎ) = 𝑚𝑔ℎ.
Finally, the change in the total mechanical energy is
∆𝐸𝑚𝑒𝑐ℎ = ∆𝐾 + ∆𝑈𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑣 = −𝑚𝑔ℎ + 𝑚𝑔ℎ = 0.
Since ∆𝐸𝑚𝑒𝑐ℎ = 0, 𝐸𝑚𝑒𝑐ℎ = 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡. As the book falls, the gravitational potential energy is converted
to kinetic energy.

SEF005 Queen Mary University of London

Mechanics and Materials School of Physics and Astronomy