Unit 3 · Work, Energy, and Power

Chapter 3.2

Potential Energy

A drawn bow holds energy with nothing moving. Where is it kept, and why do you get to decide where zero is?

lesson 11 of 18

By the end

  1. 01Explain potential energy as a property of a system of interacting objects, with a freely chosen zero
  2. 02Compute spring potential energy and near-surface gravitational potential energy changes
  3. 03Use the general gravitational potential energy of two masses, and add pairwise terms for several

In unit 3

  1. 3.1Kinetic Energy and Work
  2. 3.2Potential Energy
  3. 3.3Conservation of Energy and Power
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