PHYSICS

By
Anley Gesese (PhD)

Work, Energy and Power

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 Chapter Outline

Chapter Five: Work, energy and power (6hrs)

5.1 Work done by constant and variable forces
5.2 Conservation of energy
5.3 Work energy theorem
5.4 Conservative forces
5.5 Power

5.1 Work done by constant and variable forces

5.1.1 Work done by constant forces

The work done on a system by a constant force is defined to be

Important points:
1. For work to be done, three essential conditions should be satisfied:
1. Force must be exerted on the object.
2. The force must cause a motion or displacement of that object.
3. The displacement must be in the direction of the force.

2. Si unit of work and Energy is Joule

 
W  F  r
W  1N  m
W  1 kgm2 / s 2

3. Work Transfers Energy

Work is a transfer of energy due to an applied force.
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5.1.2 Work done by variable forces
 For example, in the case of a spring, the force acting upon any object attached to a horizontal spring
can be given as:
𝑭𝒔 = −𝒌𝒙 Where, k is the spring constant, x is the displacement of the object attached.

 We can see that this force is proportional to the displacement of the object from the equilibrium
position, hence the force acting at each instant during the compression and extension of the spring will
be different.
 Thus, the infinitesimally small contributions of work done during each instant are to be counted in
order to calculate the total work done.
Therefore, in the case of a variable force, work is calculated with the help of integration:
𝑥𝑓 𝑥𝑓 𝑥𝑓
1 2 𝑥𝑓
𝑊𝑠 = 𝐹𝑠 (𝑥) ∙ 𝑑𝑥 = (−𝑘𝑥) ∙ 𝑑𝑥 = −𝑘 𝑥𝑑𝑥 = −𝑘 𝑥
2 𝑥𝑖
𝑥𝑖 𝑥𝑖 𝑥𝑖

1 2 1 2
𝑊𝑠 = −𝑘 𝑥 − 𝑥𝑖
2 𝑓 2

𝟏
𝑾𝒔 = − 𝒌∆𝒙𝟐
𝟐
Note that when a force is variable, we cannot use the equation 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑘 𝑑𝑜𝑛𝑒 = 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒 × 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒.
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The graphical interpretation of force in this Force-Displacement plot will help us understand this concept
more clearly: From the graph of variable force against displacement we could find the work done by finding
the area under the graph, as shown in Figure
y
f(xi)
F(xi) F(x)

f(x2)∆x
Area ?
f(x )∆xi f(xn)∆x
f(x1)∆x
∆x
x
x0= a x1 x2 xi-1 xi b =xn
Figure : Graph of variable force against displacement.

n
Total area = f ( x1 )x  f ( x2 )x  ...  f ( xi )x  ...  f ( xn )x   f ( x ) x
i 1
i

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 Exercise 5.1

1. A man pulls a block with a force of magnitude F = 50.0 N at an angle of 30° with the horizontal.
Calculate the work done by the force on the block as the block is displaced 3.0m to the right.
F

30°

2. A force 𝐹 = 2𝑥 + 5 acts on a particle along the displacement. Find the work done by the force
during the displacement of the particle from 𝑥𝑖 = 0𝑚 𝑡𝑜 𝑥𝑓 = 2𝑚. Given that the force is in
Newton's.

3. What are the differences between work done by constant and variable forces?

Sol: 1) 𝐹 = 50 𝑁 ∆𝑟 = 3𝑚 𝜃 = 30° 𝑛
F
𝑊 = 𝐹 ∆𝑟 cos 𝜃
𝟑𝟎°
𝑊 = 50𝑁 3𝑚 cos 30° = 50𝑁 3𝑚 0.866 = 130 𝐽

𝑚𝑔
Sol: 2) 𝐹(𝑥) = 2𝑥 + 5 ; 𝑥𝑖 = 0𝑚 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑥𝑓 = 2𝑚
𝑥𝑓 2
2
𝑊= 𝐹(𝑥) ∙ 𝑑𝑥 = (2𝑥 + 5) ∙ 𝑑𝑥 = 𝑥 2 + 5𝑥 = 22 + 5 × 2 𝑁𝑚 = 14𝐽
𝑥𝑖 0 0

Sol: 3) The key difference between constant and variable force is that
 Constant force is a force exerted at a time that remains uniform, and thus it enables the
object to remain uniformly.
 Variable force is a force that varies with time, and thus the object does not stay uniform.

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 5.2 Conservation of energy
In physics the term work (or often work done) is another way of saying energy is being transferred from
one object to another or transformed from one type to another. The more energy transferred the more work
has been done.
Work done = Energy Transferred
To examine this, let us consider the situations shown below

       
W  F r Cos W  F r Cos W  F r Cos W  F r Cos
 Cos90  0
r  0 Cos  0 Cos180  1
W 0 W 0 W 0 W 0

+ve work is done: energy is -ve work is done: energy is

Does no work transferred to the briefcase. removed from the briefcase.
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Mechanical energy is the sum of kinetic energy and potential energy.

𝑬 = 𝑲𝑬 + 𝑷𝑬 Where E is the total mechanical energy,

1. Kinetic energy is the energy associated with the motion of the particle.
It is energy of motion.

2. Potential energy is the energy associated with objects that exert forces on each other.
It is stored energy of an object.
It comes in several forms. E.g., Gravitational potential energy is the stored
energy an object has due to its position
above Earth’s surface.

Work is done against gravity when you walk up stairs and you gain gravitational potential energy. When
you walk down stairs, work is done by gravity and you lose gravitational potential energy.
Work done against gravity, 𝑊 = ∆𝑃𝐸 = 𝑃𝐸𝑓 − 𝑃𝐸𝑖
Work done by gravity, 𝑊 = −∆𝑃𝐸 = −(𝑃𝐸𝑓 − 𝑃𝐸𝑖 )

The other possible outcomes of doing work on a system is that the system changes its speed:
𝑊 = ∆𝐾𝐸 = 𝐾𝐸𝑓 − 𝐾𝐸𝑖
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 The Conservation of mechanical energy states that …
the mechanical energy of an isolated friction-free system is conserved.

Mathematically
∆𝐸 = ∆𝐾𝐸 + ∆𝑃𝐸 = 0
𝑃𝐸𝑓 − 𝑃𝐸𝑖 + 𝑘𝐸𝑓 − 𝑘𝐸𝑖 = 0

𝑷𝑬𝒇 + 𝒌𝑬𝒇 = 𝑷𝑬𝒊 + 𝒌𝑬𝒊 Conservation of mechanical energy

Example A bullet weighing 20g is moving at a velocity of 500m/s. The bullet strikes a
windowpane and passes through it. Now, its velocity is 400m/s. Calculate work done
by a bullet when passing through this obstacle.
Solution 𝑚1 = 20𝑔 = 0.02 𝑘𝑔 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑣𝑖 = 500 𝑚 𝑠 𝑣𝑓 = 400 𝑚 𝑠

𝑊 = ∆𝐾𝐸 = 𝐾𝐸𝑓 − 𝐾𝐸𝑖

1 1 1 1
𝑊 = ∆𝐾𝐸 = 𝑚𝑣𝑓 2 − 𝑚𝑣𝑖 2 = 𝑚 𝑣𝑓 2 − 𝑣𝑖 2 = (0.02𝑘𝑔)[ 400 𝑚 𝑠 2 − 500 𝑚 𝑠 2 ]
2 2 2 2
𝑾 = −𝟗𝟎𝟎𝑱
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Exercise 5.2

1. Gravitational potential energy of a 50kg boy:

(a) How much gravitational potential energy has he gained, when he walks up a hill? His
displacement from his starting point is (800, 150) m.
(b) The boy then walks to a village. How much gravitational potential energy did he lose going from
the top of the hill to the village? The displacement from his starting point is (400, -50) m.
(c) What was the boy's net change in gravitational potential energy from his starting point to the
village?

2. A spring with a spring constant of 75 N/m is stretched by 20 cm. How much energy is stored in
the spring?
3. A force of 40N is used to stretch a spring which has a spring constant of 400 N/m. How much
energy is stored in the spring?
4. A spring with a spring constant of 150 N/m is placed on a horizontal frictionless surface while
one end of the spring is attached to a solid block of mass 100g. The mass is pulled by 10 cm to
stretch the spring and then let go. What is the highest velocity of the mass?

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 Sol: 1A) From 800, 0 𝑚 𝑡𝑜 800, 150 𝑚
⟹ ∆𝑦 = 𝑕 = 150𝑚
𝑊 = 𝑚𝑔𝑕
= 50𝑘𝑔 × 9.8 𝑚 𝑠 2 × 150𝑚 = 73500 𝐽

1B) From 800, 150 𝑚 𝑡𝑜 400, −50 𝑚

⟹ ∆𝑦 = −50𝑚 − 150 = −200𝑚
𝑊 = 𝑚𝑔𝑕
= 50𝑘𝑔 × 9.8 𝑚 𝑠 2 × (−200𝑚) = −98000 𝐽

1C) From 800, 0 𝑚 𝑡𝑜 800, −50 𝑚

⟹ ∆𝑦 = −50𝑚 − 0 = −50𝑚
𝑊 = 𝑚𝑔𝑕
= 50𝑘𝑔 × 9.8 𝑚 𝑠 2 × (−50𝑚) = −24500 𝐽

Sol: 2) A spring with a spring constant of 75 N/m is stretched by 20 cm. How much energy is stored in the
spring? 1
𝑊𝑠 = − 𝑘∆𝑥 2
2
𝑘
= − 2 𝑥𝑓 2 − 𝑥𝑖 2
1
=− 75 N/m [ 0.2𝑚 2 −0] = −1.5 𝐽
13 2

Sol: 3) A force of 40N is used to stretch a spring which has a spring constant of 400 N/m. How much energy is
stored in the spring?
1
𝑊𝑠 = − 𝑘∆𝑥 2
2
𝑘
= − 𝑥𝑓 2
2 𝐹 40𝑁
Since 𝐹𝑠 = −𝑘𝑥 ⟹ 𝑥 = − 𝑘 = − 400𝑁 𝑚
= 0.1𝑚
𝑘 1
= − 𝑥𝑓 2 = − 75 N/m [ 0.1𝑚 2 −0] = −0.375 𝐽
2 2

Sol: 4) k=150 N/m m=10g=0.01kg x = 10cm = 0.1m

𝑾𝒔 = 𝑲𝑬
1 1
− 𝐾𝑥𝑓 2 = 𝑚𝑉𝑓 2
2 2

𝑘
𝑉𝑓 = 𝑥𝑓 2
𝑚

2
150 N/m
= 0.1𝑚
0.01𝑘𝑔

= 12.24 m/s
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 5.3 Work energy theorem
According to Newton’s second law of motion
𝐹𝑁𝑒𝑡 = 𝑚𝑎
If the force 𝐹𝑁𝑒𝑡 cause the object to have a displacement 𝑠 and changes its velocity 𝑣𝑖 to 𝑣𝑓 , then we can
use the equation of motion
𝑣𝑓 2 = 𝑣𝑖 2 + 2𝑎𝑠
𝑣𝑓 2 − 𝑣𝑖 2 = 2𝑎𝑠
Multiplying every term by mass m and dividing all term by 2, we get:
1 1
𝑚𝑣 2 − 𝑚𝑣𝑖 2 = 𝒎𝒂𝑠 = 𝑭𝑠 = 𝑊
2 𝑓 2

∆𝑲𝑬 = 𝑾

Work energy theorem states that…

When work done on an object increases only its kinetic energy, then the net work
equals the change in the kinetic energy.

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Let’s examine how doing work on an object changes the object’s energy.

Lifting a rock Dropping a rock

Due to Due to

This is called
Work is a transfer of energy due to an applied force. Work Energy Theorem

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 Exercise 5.3

1. A 1000 kg car brakes to a stop from a velocity of 20 m/s over a length of 50 meters. What is
the force applied to the car?
2. A ball of mass 550 g is at rest on the ground. The ball is kicked with a force of 108 N. The
footballer's boot is in contact with the ball for 0.3 m.
a) What is the kinetic energy of the ball?
b) What is the ball's velocity at the moment it loses contact with the footballer's boot?
3. A car of mass 1200 kg accelerates from 5 m/s to 15 m/s. The force of the engine acting on the
car is 6000 N. Over what distance did the force act?

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Sol: 1A) 𝑚 = 1000 𝑘𝑔 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑣𝑖 = 20 𝑚 𝑠 𝑣𝑓 = 0 𝑎𝑛𝑑 ∆𝑥 = 50𝑚

𝑊 = ∆𝐾𝐸
1
𝐹∆𝑥 = 0 − 𝑚𝑣𝑖 2
2
1 1
𝐹=− 𝑚𝑣𝑖 2 = − 1000𝑘𝑔 20 𝑚 𝑠 2
2𝑠 2 50𝑚
= −4000𝑁

Sol: 2A) 𝑚 = 550𝑔 = 0.55 𝑘𝑔; 𝑣𝑖 = 0 𝐹 = 108 𝑁 𝑎𝑛𝑑 ∆𝑥 = 0.3 𝑚

𝐾𝐸 = 𝑊
Since 𝑊 = 𝐹∆𝑥
= 𝐹∆𝑥
= 108𝑁 0.3 𝑚
= 32.4 𝐽
1
2B) 𝐾𝐸 = 𝑚 𝑣𝑓 2 = 32.4𝐽
2

2𝐾𝐸 2(32.4 𝐽)
𝑣𝑓 = = = 10.85 𝑚 𝑠
𝑚 0.55 𝑘𝑔
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 Sol: 3) 𝑚 = 1200 𝑘𝑔 ; 𝑣𝑖 = 5 𝑚 𝑠 ; 𝑣𝑓 = 15 𝑚 𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐹 = 6000𝑁

𝑊 = ∆𝐾𝐸 Since 𝑊 = 𝐹∆𝑥

1 1
𝐹∆𝑥 = 𝑚𝑣𝑓 2 − 𝑚𝑣𝑖 2
2 2
1
𝐹∆𝑥 = 𝑚(𝑣𝑓 2 − 𝑣𝑖 2 )
2
𝑚
∆𝑥 = (𝑣 2 − 𝑣𝑖 2 /)
2𝐹 𝑓

1200𝑘𝑔
∆𝑥 = ((15 𝑚 𝑠)2 −(5 𝑚 𝑠)2 )
2(6000)

∆𝑥 = 200 𝑚

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5.4 Conservative forces

 Conservative forces a force that does no work when a body moves on a closed path.
 Conservative forces have these two equivalent properties:
1. The work done by a conservative force on a particle moving between any two points is
independent of the path taken by the particle.

2. The work done by a conservative force on a particle moving through any closed path is zero.
 A closed path is one in which the beginning and end points are identical.
 The gravitational force is one example of a conservative force, and the force that a
spring exerts on any object attached to the spring is another.

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 5.5 Power
Power is defined as the time rate of energy transfer :
𝑻𝒐𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝑾𝒐𝒓𝒌 𝒅𝒐𝒏𝒆
𝑷𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓 =
𝑻𝒐𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒂𝒌𝒆𝒏

 Power is the rate at which work is done, or the work done per second. It is measured
in the units joules per second (j/s), which are also called watts (W).

 We can also express power in terms of force and velocity:

Example
A garage hoist lifts a truck up 2 meters above the ground in 20 seconds. Find the power
delivered to the truck. [Given: 1000 kg as the mass of the truck]
Solution 𝑚 = 1000 𝑘𝑔 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑕 = 2𝑚 𝑡 = 20 𝑠
𝑊
𝑃=
𝑡 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑊 = 𝑚𝑔𝑕

𝑚𝑔𝑕 (1000𝑘𝑔)(9.8 𝑚 𝑠 2 )(2 𝑚)

𝑃= = = 980 𝐽 𝑠 = 980𝑤
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𝑡 20 𝑠

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