Question

A mysterious constant force of 10 N acts horizontally on everything. The direction of the force is found to be always pointed toward a wall in a big hall. Find the potential energy of a particle due to this force when it is at a distance x from the wall, assuming the potential energy at the wall to be zero.

a) 10x J
b) 5x² J
c) 100/x J
d) -10/x J

Answer 1

The potential energy of a particle at a distance x from the wall, with a constant horizontal force of 10 N acting towards the wall, is 10x J, assuming the potential energy at the wall is zero.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question asks to find the potential energy of a particle when a constant force of 10 N acts on it, directed towards a wall. Assuming that the potential energy at the wall is zero, we use the definition of potential energy, which is the work done against a force to move a particle from one point to another.

For a constant force, the work done is equal to the product of the force and the distance moved in the direction of the force (W = Fd). Since the force is directed towards the wall, as the particle moves away from the wall the work done against the force will be positive, which means the potential energy increases as the particle moves away from the wall. Therefore, for a particle at a distance x from the wall, the potential energy is U(x) = Fx, thus 10x J.