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Potential Energy Formula:
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Potential energy on an inclined plane refers to the gravitational potential energy of an object positioned at a height along an incline. It represents the energy stored due to the object's position relative to the ground level.
The calculator uses the potential energy formula for inclined planes:
Where:
Explanation: The formula calculates the gravitational potential energy by considering the vertical height component derived from the incline length and angle.
Details: Calculating potential energy on inclined planes is essential in physics and engineering for understanding energy conservation, mechanical advantage, and designing systems involving slopes and ramps.
Tips: Enter mass in kilograms, length in meters, angle in degrees (0-90), and gravity in m/s² (default is Earth's gravity 9.81 m/s²). All values must be positive numbers.
Q1: Why use sin(θ) in the formula?
A: The sin(θ) function calculates the vertical height component (h = l × sin(θ)) from the inclined length, which determines the potential energy.
Q2: What is the range of valid angles?
A: Angles should be between 0° (horizontal) and 90° (vertical). At 0°, potential energy is zero; at 90°, it's equivalent to vertical lift.
Q3: Can I use different gravity values?
A: Yes, you can input different gravity values for calculations on other planets or in different gravitational environments.
Q4: How does mass affect potential energy?
A: Potential energy is directly proportional to mass - doubling the mass doubles the potential energy, assuming other factors remain constant.
Q5: What are typical units for potential energy?
A: Potential energy is measured in joules (J) in the SI system, where 1 joule = 1 kg·m²/s².