Physics
Potential Energy
Potential energy of hanging chain
11
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Calculating the kinetic energy of a chain slipping off a table using potential energy differences.
['dU = -(m/l dx)gx (Potential energy of a small chain element)', 'U_initial = -mgl / 18 (Potential energy initially)', 'U_final = -mgl / 2 (Potential energy finally)', 'KE_final = 4mgl / 9 (Kinetic energy finally)']
Calculate the potential energy of the chain in the initial and final states. The difference in potential energy equals the kinetic energy gained.