Question

The potential energy of an object of mass m moving in xy plane in a conservative field is given by U = ax + by, where x and y are position coordinates of the object. Find magnitude of its acceleration.

Answer 1

Dear Student ,
$$\begin{gathered} F_x=–dU/dx=-\left(a\right) \\ {F}_y=–dU/dy=-\left(b\right) \\ m{a}_x=-\left(a\right) \\ or{a}_x=-a/m \\ and \\ m{a}_y=-\left(b\right) \\ or{a}_y=-b/m \\ Netacceleration=\sqrt{{\left(\frac{a}{m}\right)}^2+{\left(\frac{b}{m}\right)}^2} \end{gathered}$$

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