Grav. Potential Energy statement (1 Viewer)

[corpse]

"The change in the potential energy of a body as it moves from one point to another is the same, regardless of the reference level and it is only the difference in potential energy that is important."

To me, this makes absolutely no sense. Got this from the Excel text book. I've read a fair bit about GPE, and I think I understand it...

But this makes no sense...


Doesn't "the change in" and "the difference" mean the same thing?

Discuss?

 

[alez]

I think what they are saying is to disregard where it is and only take notice of the change, as that is what determines the PE.
Eg if a particle has xPE at a point a and then moves to point b where it has yPE, its change in PE is y-x, regardless of where a and b are. seems to be stating the obvious....
Change in and difference are saying the same thing. I think.

 

[twilight1412]

all its saying is
the only important thing is where it was and where it is
how it got there makes no difference whatsoever
say it traveled past the reference point and then returned after a massive loop
none of that crap matters because it still ended up in the same place