ABSTRACT
Suppose that a potential energy function, U(~r ), is known, while its associated conservative force, →F
C , remains as yet unknown. By virtue of the fact that U(~r ) is a potential energy
function, its differences are uniquely specified by the work done by → F
Uf − Ui = U(~rf )− U(~ri) ≡ − ∫ ~rf ~ri
→ F
C · d~s .
