AP Physics C: Mechanics Flashcards: Conservation of Energy
Written by AP Content Team, Verified for 2026 AP Exams, Last updated: May 2026
Review key ideas with interactive flashcards. This set includes 11 cards to help you master important concepts.
What is the fundamental principle regarding energy in all interactions?
The fundamental principle is that energy is conserved in all interactions.
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What is the fundamental principle regarding energy in all interactions?
The fundamental principle is that energy is conserved in all interactions.
How can the total energy of a system change even if energy is always conserved?
The total energy within a defined system can change via a transfer of energy between the system and its surroundings (e.g., through work or heat).
If a system's total mechanical energy is constant and its kinetic energy increases by 50 J, what is the change in its potential energy?
The system's potential energy must have decreased by 50 J to balance the change and keep the total mechanical energy constant.
What are the components of mechanical energy?
The components of mechanical energy are a system's kinetic energy and its potential energies.
How must any change to a type of energy within a system be balanced?
It must be balanced by an equivalent change of other types of energies within the system or by a transfer of energy between the system and its surroundings.
What is the key difference between the conservation of *total* energy and the conservation of *mechanical* energy?
Total energy is conserved in all interactions, whereas mechanical energy is only conserved under the specific conditions of zero work and no nonconservative interactions.
Besides zero work being done, what other condition is required for mechanical energy to be conserved?
For mechanical energy to be conserved, there must also be no nonconservative interactions within the system.
A satellite orbits Earth in a circular path. If its potential energy decreases, what must happen to its kinetic energy for mechanical energy to be conserved?
For mechanical energy to be conserved, its kinetic energy must increase by an amount equivalent to the decrease in potential energy.
What is mechanical energy?
Mechanical energy is the sum of a system's kinetic and potential energies.
Under what specific conditions is the total mechanical energy of a system constant?
The total mechanical energy of a system is constant if the work done on the system is zero and there are no nonconservative interactions within the system.
How can the behavior of a system be described using conservation of mechanical energy?
The behavior can be described by recognizing that any change in potential energy results in an equal and opposite change in kinetic energy, provided the conditions for conservation are met.