Show with an example that potential energy is dependent of path followed in raising an object to height' h'.
Potential Energy Potential Energy is just like it sounds, it is energy that is related to an object's potential. Potential Energy can be quantified as mass times gravity times height (PE=m*g*h). The unit for mass should be either kilogram or pound mass depending on the unit system. Gravity is a constant, 9.81m/s²in SI units or 32.2 ft/sec² in English units. Gravity is an acceleration, it can be described as meters or feet per second per second or the change in velocity per second. Lastly, the height, has units of meters in SI units and feet in English units. It is important to note that height is considered a relative quantity. In other words, when looking at potential energy, the first step is to establish a datum or origin. Meaning, an elevation where the height is zero needs to be defined. For example, the floor can be defined as a height of zero. However, the zero point (datum) does not have to be the floor, it can be any point, but it must not be changed once it is defined. It is also important to note that potential energy can be positive, zero or negative. For example, if the datum is defined as the top of a table, and the object is on the floor, that object has a negative potential energy since the height below the top of the table.
Potential Energy is just like it sounds, it is energy that is related to an object's potential. Potential Energy can be quantified as mass times gravity times height (PE=m*g*h). The unit for mass should be either kilogram or pound mass depending on the unit system. Gravity is a constant, 9.81m/s²in SI units or 32.2 ft/sec² in English units. Gravity is an acceleration, it can be described as meters or feet per second per second or the change in velocity per second. Lastly, the height, has units of meters in SI units and feet in English units. It is important to note that height is considered a relative quantity. In other words, when looking at potential energy, the first step is to establish a datum or origin. Meaning, an elevation where the height is zero needs to be defined. For example, the floor can be defined as a height of zero. However, the zero point (datum) does not have to be the floor, it can be any point, but it must not be changed once it is defined. It is also important to note that potential energy can be positive, zero or negative. For example, if the datum is defined as the top of a table, and the object is on the floor, that object has a negative potential energy since the height below the top of the table.
