Q: A pendulum of unknown mass ( m ) is rotated through an angle ( θ ) until it is vertically displaced by a distance ( Δh ). As a consequence, it has a gain in potential energy ( PE ) within the gravitational field that is directly proportional to its vertical displacement. If theContinue reading “ENERGY AND MOMENTUM: The Potential Energy of a Pendulum”
Tag Archives: Law of Conservation of Energy
ENERGY AND MOMENTUM: Translational and Rotational Kinetic Energy
When determining the final kinetic energy ( KE ) of falling objects, we need not ( in theory ) concern ourselves with anything other than the linear pathway traveled to the earth’s surface. To the contrary, an object that rolls top to bottom down an incline will gain both linear ( KE ) and rotationalContinue reading “ENERGY AND MOMENTUM: Translational and Rotational Kinetic Energy”
FLUIDS: Torricelli’s Theorem and the Conservation of Energy
The Law of Conservation of Energy states that energy can neither be created nor destroyed, but it does have the ability to change forms. Take for example an object of mass ( m ) that has been raised to some arbitrary height ( h ). The work ( W ) done on the object isContinue reading “FLUIDS: Torricelli’s Theorem and the Conservation of Energy”
FLUIDS: Pascal’s Principle, Conservation of Mass, and Conservation of Energy
Like all other systems, fluids that travel within closed systems abide by all of the laws of physics. This claim can be validated via mathematical derivations that begin with Pascal’s principle. In short, Pascal’s principle states that a change in pressure within a fluid is equally distributed throughout a system provided that the fluid isContinue reading “FLUIDS: Pascal’s Principle, Conservation of Mass, and Conservation of Energy”
HEAT AND THERMAL ENERGY: Specific Heat vs. Specific Heat Capacity
Although similar, the terms “ specific heat “ and “ specific heat capacity “ are not synonymous. Different materials have different abilities to absorb and store heat energy ( J ). Specific heat capacity refers to the amount of heat energy needed to raise 1 kilogram ( kg ) of a specific substance by 1Continue reading “HEAT AND THERMAL ENERGY: Specific Heat vs. Specific Heat Capacity”
INTRODUCTION TO ELECTRONICS: The Superposition Theorem
Q: What is the total current ( IT ) and voltage ( V3 ) across resistor R3? A: In order to begin evaluating the circuit from the vantage point of Vs1, we place a short across Vs2 : Within this circuit, negatively charged electrons move upward and across the R3 resistor towards the positively chargedContinue reading “INTRODUCTION TO ELECTRONICS: The Superposition Theorem“
INTRODUCTION TO ELECTRONICS: A Conceptual Analysis of Thevenin’s Theorem
A physical system would be meaningless without an observer. Conclusions about electrical systems are oftentimes made from the vantage point of the source ( Vs ), but this need not be the case. If a portion of a circuit is “ opened “, an observer can view the source and other components from the newlyContinue reading “INTRODUCTION TO ELECTRONICS: A Conceptual Analysis of Thevenin’s Theorem“
INTRODUCTION TO ELECTRONICS: Voltage Divider Principle in Series-Parallel Circuits
The voltage-divider formula is expressed as follows: Vx = ( Rx / RT )( Vs ) This formula is used to determine how series resistors ( R ) split voltage drops apart as current passes through them. The net voltage drop across a series circuit’s resistors is always ( ignoring small losses ) equal toContinue reading “INTRODUCTION TO ELECTRONICS: Voltage Divider Principle in Series-Parallel Circuits“
INTRODUCTION TO ELECTRONICS: Parallel Circuits
In the study of parallel resistor ( Rx ) circuits, where “ x “ is the number of a particular resistor ( x = 1, 2, 3, … n ), a common point of confusion regards how the total resistance ( Rt ) of the circuit is always less than the lowest calculated resistor value.Continue reading “INTRODUCTION TO ELECTRONICS: Parallel Circuits“
INTRODUCTION TO ELECTRONICS: The Current-Divider Formula
As we have seen, the voltage ( V ) drops that occur across resistors ( R ) in parallel circuits are equal in magnitude to the voltage of the source. In addition to this, the currents ( I ) within parallel circuits split apart ( and later recombine ) at nodes. The magnitude of theContinue reading “INTRODUCTION TO ELECTRONICS: The Current-Divider Formula“
RENAISSANCE PHYSICS 