where, 
where,
Thus, the scaler function or force potential 
must be such that its partial derivative with respect to a coordinate results in the force component along that direction. The work done by a conservative force field F, as the particle is displaced from an initial position 1 to a final position 2 is given by,
L16 : Principle of total minimum Potential Energy |
What is a force field? When the force is expressed as a function of x,y,z, it is called a force field. For example F(x,y,z) is a force field. Given the position we can find the force. A force field is said to be conservative if the force F in the field is continuous in space and is expressed as a gradient of a scaler function |