Unit 6 Variables
K -✔✔kinetic energy: energy of motion (J)
Ug-✔✔gravitational potential energy: energy stored in a gravitational field
(J)
Us-✔✔spring potential energy: energy stored in something squished or
stretched (J)
Etherm-✔✔thermal energy (J)
[ΣE]SigmaE-✔✔Mechanical energy of a system; changed by external
work, collisions, or a heat source (J)
[Δy]Deltay (energy)-✔✔when calculating [Δ]DeltaUg: height change of the
center of mass (m)
[Δx]Deltax (springs)-✔✔compression/stretch of spring from equilibrium (m)
k (springs)-✔✔Spring constant (N/m)
g-✔✔gravitational field strength (m/s² or N/kg)
W (effect)-✔✔work: a change in mechanical energy (J)
The Mechanical Energy of the object system is -✔✔[ΣE]SigmaE= K
The Mechanical Energy of the object-spring system is -✔✔[ΣE]SigmaE= K
+ Us
Work (effect): work is a change in a system’s mechanical energy-✔✔W =
[ΔE]DeltaE = Ef - E0
K -✔✔kinetic energy: energy of motion (J)
Ug-✔✔gravitational potential energy: energy stored in a gravitational field
(J)
Us-✔✔spring potential energy: energy stored in something squished or
stretched (J)
Etherm-✔✔thermal energy (J)
[ΣE]SigmaE-✔✔Mechanical energy of a system; changed by external
work, collisions, or a heat source (J)
[Δy]Deltay (energy)-✔✔when calculating [Δ]DeltaUg: height change of the
center of mass (m)
[Δx]Deltax (springs)-✔✔compression/stretch of spring from equilibrium (m)
k (springs)-✔✔Spring constant (N/m)
g-✔✔gravitational field strength (m/s² or N/kg)
W (effect)-✔✔work: a change in mechanical energy (J)
The Mechanical Energy of the object system is -✔✔[ΣE]SigmaE= K
The Mechanical Energy of the object-spring system is -✔✔[ΣE]SigmaE= K
+ Us
Work (effect): work is a change in a system’s mechanical energy-✔✔W =
[ΔE]DeltaE = Ef - E0
