Conservation of mechanical energy is description of an ideal mechanical process. It is characterized by absence of non-conservative force like friction.

There is no external force either on the system. Therefore, the elements of this ideal process are:

System : isolated Energy : kinetic and potential Forces : gravitational and elastic Transfer of energy: No transfer of energy across the system.

Characteristics of an ideal mechanical process

Conservation of mechanical energy applies to a mechanical process in which external force and nonconservative internal forces are absent. There is no external force on the system. Hence, work by external force is zero. There is no exchange or transfer of energy across the system. Therefore, we use an isolated system to apply conservation of energy. We should, however, note that transfer of energy from one form to another takes place within the system, resulting from work done by internal force. There is no non-conservative force like friction in the system. It means that there is no change in thermal energy of the system. The internal forces are only conservative force. This ensures that transfer of energy takes place only between kinetic and potential energy of the isolated system. Since potential energy is regained during the process, there is no dissipation of energy. As there is no dissipation of energy involved, the system represents the most energy efficient reference for the particular process. One of the most striking feature of this system is that only force working in the system is conservative force. This has great simplifying effect on the analysis. The work by conservative force is independent of path and hence calculation of potential energy of the system is path independent as well. The independence of path, in turn, allows analysis of motion along paths, which are not straight.

Conservation of mechanical energy

The statement of conservation of energy for the ideal mechanical process is known as conservation of mechanical energy". The equation for the mechanical process is :

WE+WF=K+U
Here,

WE=0 WF=0

Hence, for the isolated system,

K+U=0 Emech=0 Emech=0

This is what is known as conservation of mechanical energy. We can interpret this equation in many ways and in different words: 1: When only conservative forces interact within an isolated system, sum of the change in kinetic and potential energy between two states is equal to zero.

K+U=0
2: When only conservative forces interact within an isolated system, sum of the kinetic and potential energy of an isolated system cannot change.

K=U KfKi=(UfUi) Ki+Ui=Kf+Uf

3: When only conservative forces interact within an isolated system, the change in mechanical energy of an isolated system is zero.

Emech=0
4: When only conservative forces interact within an isolated system, the mechanical energy of an isolated system can not change.

Emech=0
We should be aware that there are two ways to apply conservation law. We can apply it in terms of energy for initial (subscripted with i) and final (subscripted with f) states or in terms of change in energy. This point will be clear as we work with examples. Here, we shall work an example that we had previously analyzed with the help of "work-kinetic energy" theorem. This will help us to understand (i) what are the elements of ideal mechanical process (ii) how conservation principle works and (iii) how does it help simplify analysis.

Example
Problem: A small block of 0.1 kg is released from a height 5 m as shown in the figure. The block following a curved path transitions to a linear horizontal path and hits the spring fixed to a wedge. If no friction is involved and spring constant is 1000 N/m, find the maximum compression of the spring.

Motion of a block

Figure 1
Solution: Here block, curved incline and spring form isolated system. Earth is implicit element of the system. We may argue why incline and why not horizontal surface? Curved incline (its shape) determines the component of gravity driving block downward. Hence, it is included in the system. Horizontal surface also applies force on block, but in normal direction to the motion. Now, as friction is not involved, the horizontal surface is not involved in the exchange of energy. Two of the elements i.e. block and spring are subjected to motion. Application of conservation principle, thus, involves more than one object unlike analysis based on laws of motion. As friction is not involved, we can apply the conservation of mechanical energy. Now, initial energy of the system is:

Ei=K+U=0+mgh=mgh=0.1x10x5=5J
When the compression in the spring is maximized, kinetic energies of both block and spring are zero. Let "x" be the maximum compression,

Ef=K+U=0+12kx2=12kx2Ef==0.5x1000x2=500x2
According to conservation of mechanical energy:

500x2=5x=0.1m=10cm
NOTE:

We can compare this solution with the one given in the module titled " Conservative forces ".

Vertical circular motion

Study of this vertical motion was incomplete earlier as we were limited by constant force system and linear motion in most of the cases. On the other hand, vertical circular motion involved variable force and non-linear path. The analysis of the situation is suited to the energy analysis. Let us consider that a small object of mass "m" is attached to a string and is whirled in a vertical plane.

Force analysis at the highest point gives the minimum speed required so that string does not slack. It is important to understand that this is the most critical point, where string might slack. The forces in ydirection :

Vertical circular motion

Figure 2: The object maintains a minimum speed.

Fy=mg+T=mv2r
For the limiting case, when T = 0,

mg=mv2rv=(gr)
This expression gives the limiting value of the speed of particle in vertical circular motion. If the speed of the particle is less than this limiting value, then the particle will fall. Once this value is known, we can find speed of the particle at any other point along the circular path by applying conservation of mechanical energy. Here, we shall find speed at two other positions - one at the bottom (C) and other at the middle point (B or D).

Vertical circular motion

Figure 3: The object maintains a minimum speed.

In order to analyze mechanical energy, we need to have a reference zero gravitational potential energy. For this instant case, we consider the horizontal level containing point "C" as the zero reference for gravitational potential energy. Now, mechanical energy at points "A", "C" and "D" are:

EA=K+U=12mvA2+mgx2r=12mgr+2mgr=52mgrEC=K+U=12mv C2+0=12mvC2ED=K+U=12mvD2+mgr
From first two equations, we have:

vC=(5gr)
From last two equations, we have:

vD=(3gr)
This shows how energy analysis can be helpful in situations where force on the object is not constant and path of motion is not straight. However, this example also points out one weak point about energy analysis. For example, the initial condition for minimum speed at the highest can not be obtained using energy analysis and we have to resort to force analysis. What it means that if details of the motion are to be ascertained, then we have to take recourse to force analysis.

Example
Problem 2: The ball is released from a height h along a smooth path shown in the figure. What should be the height h so that ball goes around the loop without falling of the track ?

Vertical circular motion

Figure 4: The ball does not fall off the track.

Solution: The path here is smooth. Hence, friction is absent. No external force is working on the Earth ball system. The only internal force is gravity, which is a conservative force. Hence, we can apply conservation of mechanical energy. The most critical point where ball can fall off the track is B. We have seen that the ball need to have a minimum speed at "B" as given by:

vB=gr
Corresponding to this requirement at B, the speed of the ball can be obtained at bottom point C by applying conservation of mechanical energy. The speed of the ball as worked out earlier is given as :

vC=5gr
In order to find the height required to impart this speed to the ball at the bottom, we apply law of conservation of energy between A and C.

Ki+Ui=Kf+Uf
Considering ground as zero reference gravitational potential, we have:

0+mgh=12mv2C+0 v2C=2mghm=2gh vC=2gh

Equating two expressions of the speed at point C, we have:

5gr=2gh h=5r2