Potentials

When the path doesn’t matter

An interactive lesson with 6 steps, about 5 minutes: you predict, drag and solve, with instant feedback on every answer. It runs in your browser and needs JavaScript.

What you’ll learn

• F = ∇φ: work = φ(B) − φ(A), whatever the path.
• Conservative fields do zero work around closed loops.
• Test in 2D: ∂Q/∂x = ∂P/∂y.

Steps

1. Downhill fields
2. Work from a potential
3. Climb by 3
4. A quick test
5. Find the potential
6. Free energy?