6. Law of Conservation of Energy in Higher Dimensions

For more information about Professor Shankar’s book based on the lectures from this course, Fundamentals of Physics: Mechanics, Relativity, and Thermodynamics, visit http://bit.ly/1jFIqNu.

Fundamentals of Physics (PHYS 200)

The discussion on the Law of Conservation of Energy continues but is applied in higher dimensions. The notion of a function with two variables is reviewed. Conservative forces are explained and students are taught how to recognize and manufacture them.

00:00 – Chapter 1. Calculus Review: Small Changes for Motion in 2D
18:05 – Chapter 2. Work Done in 2D; Dot Products and Cross Products
36:16 – Chapter 3. Conservative and Non-conservative Forces
52:29 – Chapter 4. Cross Derivative Test for Potential Energy Equations
01:03:55 – Chapter 5. Application to Gravitational Potential Energy

This course was recorded in Fall 2006.