A particle is moved from point P to point Q under the action of a single force
PHYSICS · Subjective · CBSE · Physics · Work, Energy and Power · Work, Energy and Power
Problem
A particle is moved from point P to point Q under the action of a single force. The work measured for three different routes is as follows:
• Direct straight-line path PQ : 24 J
• Broken path P → R → S → Q (three straight segments in the same vertical plane) : 24 J
• Closed path P → R → S → Q → P : 0 J
(i) Define a conservative force.
(ii) Explain, with reasons drawn from the data above, whether the force acting on the particle is conservative or non-conservative.
(iii) State the relation between the work done by a conservative force and the corresponding change in potential energy of the system.
(iv) If the potential energy of the particle at P is taken as zero, determine its potential energy at Q.