The first graph shows the potential energy U(x) for a particle moving on the x axis. Which of the following five graphs correctly gives the force F exerted on the particle?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The force on a particle is equal to the negative derivative of the potential energy with respect to position, i.e. F = -dU(x)/dx. This means that the graph of the force is simply the negative gradient of the potential energy graph, which is shown in Option D.

The First Graph Shows the Potential Energy U(x) for a Particle