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Work, Energy and Power (Notes)

The document discusses work, energy, and power. It defines work as force times distance, and explains that work is done whenever a force causes an object to move. It also defines kinetic energy and gravitational potential energy, and describes how energy can be transferred between these two forms. Finally, the document defines power as the rate at which work is done or energy is transferred, and gives the equation that relates power, work, and time.

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Asterisk Khant
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149 views13 pages

Work, Energy and Power (Notes)

The document discusses work, energy, and power. It defines work as force times distance, and explains that work is done whenever a force causes an object to move. It also defines kinetic energy and gravitational potential energy, and describes how energy can be transferred between these two forms. Finally, the document defines power as the rate at which work is done or energy is transferred, and gives the equation that relates power, work, and time.

Uploaded by

Asterisk Khant
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Work

The Basics

➢ Know and use the relationship between work done, force and distance
moved in the direction of the force:

work done = force x distance moved

W=Fxd

• Work is done whenever a force acts on an object that moves (or is moving)
in the direction of the force.

Work is done when a force is used to move an object

• The amount of work that is done if related to the size of the force and
the distance moved by the object in the direction of the force:

work done = force x distance moved

W=Fxd
• You can rearrange this equation with the help of the formula triangle:

Use the formula triangle to help you rearrange the equation


• The units of work are joules (J) (the same as the units of energy), but can
also be given as newton metres (Nm).
Work & Energy
➢ Know that work done is equal to energy transferred
work done = force x distance moved
W=Fxd
• Energy is the capacity of something to do work.
• Whenever any work is done, energy gets transferred (mechanically) from one
store to another.
• The amount of energy transferred (in joules) is equal to the work done (also
in joules).
energy transferred (J) = work done (J)
• Usually, if a force acts in the direction that an object is moving, then the object
will gain energy.
• If the force acts in the opposite direction to the movement, then the object
will lose energy.
KE & GPE
Gravitational Potential energy
➢ Know and use the relationship between gravitational potential energy,
mass, gravitational field strength and height:

• The gravitational potential energy (GPE) of an object is the energy it has due
to its height in a gravitational field:
➢ If an object is lifted up it will gain GPE.
➢ If it falls, it will lose GPE.

Gravitational potential energy: The energy an object has when it is lifted up

• The GPE of an object is related to its mass (m), height (h) and the
gravitational field strength (g):

gravitational potential energy = mass x gravitational field strength x height

GPE = m x g x h
• The gravitational field strength (g) on the Earth is approximately 10 N/kg.
(You will always be told this value in your examination paper.)

Kinetic Energy

➢ Know and use the relationship:

kinetic energy = 1/2 mass x speed2

KE = 1/2 m x v2

• The kinetic energy of an object is the energy it has as a result of its speed.

Kinetic energy: The energy an object has when it is moving

• It is related to the mass and speed of the object by the equation:

kinetic energy = 1/2 mass x speed2


KE = 1/2 m x v2
(Note: In the above equation only, the speed is squared – not the mass or the ½).
Energy Transfers

➢ Understand how conservation of energy produces a link between gravitational


potential energy, kinetic energy and work.
➢ The law of conservation of energy states that:
Energy cannot be created or destroyed; it can only be transferred from one
type (store) to another.

Some examples of this include:

• A falling object (in the absence of air resistance):


• GPE is transferred into KE.
• The KE just before the object reaches the ground will equal the GPE
that it loses.
An engine causing a car to speed up:
• The work done by the engine will cause a transfer of chemical energy
(of the fuel) into kinetic energy.

A car applying its brakes:

• The brakes do work, which causes some of the car’s KE to be


transferred into Thermal (Heat) energy (the brakes get hotter).

Exam Tip

If a question asks you to State a value, you do not need to carry out a
calculation: The answer will almost certainly be a number either from a
previous answer or which was given somewhere in the question.
For example, if you have just calculated the gravitational potential energy of
an object and are then asked to state the kinetic energy a moment later, the
answers will probably be the same.

The terms “gravitational store” and “gravitational potential energy” mean the
same thing and are interchangeable. Likewise, for “kinetic store” and “kinetic
energy”.
Power

➢ Describe power as the rate of transfer of energy or the rate of doing work.
• Use the relationship between power, work done (energy transferred)
and time taken:

power = work done / time taken

P=W/t

Machines, such as car engines, transfer energy from one type to another every
second.

The amount of energy they transfer each second is called the power.

Because work done is equal to the energy transferred, the power is also equal to the
rate of doing work (the work done every second).

Power, work and time are related by the following equation:

power = work done / time taken

P=W/t

You can rearrange this equation with the help of the formula triangle:
Use the formula triangle to help you rearrange the equation

• The unit of power is the watt (W), which is the same as a joule per second
(J/s).

Exam Tip

Think of power as “energy per second”. Think of it this way will help you to
remember the relationship between power and energy.

“Watt is the unit of power?”


Energy Transfers

Describe the energy transfers involved in generating electricity using:

• Wind
• Water
• geothermal resources
• solar heating systems
• solar cells
• fossil fuels
• nuclear power

•Energy resources are large banks of energy that can be transferred into a form that
can be used by society.

•The various energy resources involve different energy transfers, as shown in the
table below:
Advantages & Disadvantages

Describe the advantages and disadvantages of methods of large-scale electricity


production from various renewable and non-renewable resources.

•All energy resources have advantages and disadvantages associated with them.

•A renewable energy resource is one that is replenished at a faster rate than the rate
at which it is being used.

As a result of this, renewable energy resources cannot run out.

•A reliable energy resource is one that can produce energy at any time.

Non-reliable resources can only produce energy some of the time (e.g. when it’s
windy).
Exam Tip

When describing the advantages and disadvantages of power source, avoid


talking about the cost, as it is far from straightforward:

Although wind may be free, the turbines are very expensive to build.

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