Chapter 6: Work, Power, Energy, & Moment of Inertia - Homework Answers

1. Define power is the rate of doing work

2. Define work is a force moved through a distance, the distance must be parallel to
the direction of the motion.

3. Define Kinetic Energy is energy of a moving object.

4. Define Potential Energy is energy of position, for gravitational potential energy it

is the energy stored because of the vertical height above the reference plane.

5. Define Moment of Inertia acts like the mass term in linear equation, this term
defines the shape of a rotating object.

6. Explain how an overshot waterwheel uses potential energy. The potential energy
of the water is converted to mechanical energy by rotation of the waterwheel, the
weight of the water on the wheel cause it to turn. The vertical height of the wheel
equates to height term in the equations.
7. Explain how an undershot waterwheel uses kinetic energy. The kinetic energy of
the water, is converted to mechanical energy by rotation of the waterwheel, the
velocity of the water and the amount of water control the amount of work that the
wheel can do?
8. Explain some of the design parameters you would use to get the maximum
amount of work from an overshot waterwheel. The shape of the buckets, width of
the wheel, height of the wheel, the distance the water remains on the wheel, the
balance of the wheel and the lack of friction.

9. If a overshot waterwheel is .5 meters in width, the depth of the water in the flume
is .25 m and the wheel is 4 meters in height, the water in the flume is flowing at a
rate of 2 m/s. What is the power output in horsepower?

A = (.5m )(.25m )
A = .125m 2
kg

m
P = 9800 2 2 (.125m 2 ) ( 4m ) 2
ms

s
P = 9800 watts
P = 13.1hp

10. If an undershot waterwheel is 1 meter in width, the depth of the water in the race
is .4 m and the water is flowing at 5 m/s. What is the power output in
horsepower?

A = (.4m )(1m )
A = .4m 2
kg

m
P = 500 3 (.4m 2 ) 5
m

s
P = 25000watts
P = 33.5hp