Menu

Conservation of Energy

Part of the Mechanics section of Coddy's Physics journey. Lesson 54 of 97.

When only gravity does work, the mechanical energy, KE + PE, stays the same:

12mv02+mgh0=12mv2+mgh\tfrac{1}{2} m v_0^2 + m g h_0 = \tfrac{1}{2} m v^2 + m g h

A roller coaster track: the car starts at rest at A, 10 metres high, dips to B at ground level, and climbs to C, 7.5 metres high

The car starts at rest at A; the track has no friction.

Going down, PE turns into KE; going up, KE turns back into PE. The total is the same at every point, and the mass cancels.

Energy bars for a 100 kilogram car: at A 9800 joules of potential energy, at B 9800 joules of kinetic energy, at C 7350 joules of potential and 2450 joules of kinetic energy

Energy bars for a 100 kg100\ \mathrm{kg} car: the total is 9800 J9800\ \mathrm{J} at every point.

challenge icon

Challenge

A 50 kg50\ \mathrm{kg} skateboarder rolls at 7 m/s7\ \mathrm{m/s} at the bottom of a smooth 30∘30^\circ ramp and coasts up it until she stops. The picture shows her twice: at the bottom and where she stops. Draw the forces on her where she stops for an instant, then find the height hh she reaches.

Try it yourself

Physics diagram: ramp, ball, path; arrows v = 7 m/s

Solve for hh

quiz iconTest yourself

This lesson includes a short quiz. Start the lesson to answer it and track your progress.

All lessons in Mechanics