© Dr.

Lizhi Xu, educational purposes only

Lecture 5:

Work and Mechanical Energy

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Newton’s 2nd law: In an inertial frame of reference, the vector

sum of the forces F on an object is equal to the mass m of that
object multiplied by the acceleration a of the object.

ΣF=ma
Integrate over displacement:

SI unit: work change of kinetic energy

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work change of kinetic energy

F is called conservative force if its work only depends on position and is

independent of the path.

Can define a potential energy as a function of r :

loss of potential energy work done by the

conservative force

For a closed loop, the net work done by a conservative force is zero.
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examples conservative force potential energy

gravity

elasticity

electrostatic

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loss in potential energy gain in kinetic energy

work done by non-conservative forces (path-dependent)

examples: friction / air resistance
traction of a vehicle
…
(non-conservative part)

If Σ

conservation of mechanical energy

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Example and Exercise: Roller Coaster

“Millennium Force” in Cedar Point Amusement Park, Ohio, USA

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Example and Exercise: Roller Coaster (Conservative Force)

You are riding on the “Millennium Force”. Its maximum and minimum heights are
94m and 3m, respectively. Your speed is 0 m/s at the maximum height (point A).
Neglect friction. Determine (1) your velocity at point B with a height of 64 m, and
(2) the maximum speed you can get on this ride. (g = 9.8 )
VB = 24.2 m/s (87.3 km/h) along the tangent direction of the track
vmax = 42.2 m/s (152 km/h) 80
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work:

power:

SI unit:

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Example and Exercise: Bugatti Veyron

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Example and Exercise: Non-Conservative Forces

A Bugatti Veyron with a total mass of = 1,900 (kg) is running on a straight track.
The resistance force (the sum of rolling drag from the tires and the aerodynamic
drag) follows a rule (N), where is its speed.

Determine the power needed to keep it running at its maximum speed of 113 (m/s)
(407 km/h).

P = 883 (kW) (1,184 hp, about 10 times more than a VW golf!)

Extended question: Where does the power come from? Where does it go?
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Case Study: Collision / Impact

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Case Study: Collision

before: A B

after: A B

Conservation of linear momentum:

The kinetic energy might not be conserved!

Define coefficient of restitution:

e = 1: elastic collision, the kinetic energy is conserved.

e = 0: perfectly inelastic collision, A and B stick together, max. energy dissipation.

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Case Study: Collision (center-of-mass frame)

Finding the velocity of the center of mass:

(does not change right before & after the collision)

Using the center-of-mass frame of reference, it will become much easier:

(Here, the sum of linear momentum is always zero.)

Before the collision: A

G B

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Case Study: Impact (center-of-mass frame)

Before the collision: A B

After the collision:

(independent of frame of reference)

e = 1:
A B
(elastic)

0< e <1: A B
(inelastic)

e = 0: A B
(perfectly inelastic)
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Case Study: Collision (König's theorem)

König's theorem:

: kinetic energy of the system

: kinetic energy with the center of mass ( )

: kinetic energy of the system in the center-of-mass frame of reference

(available energy, the maximum energy you can lose during collision)

(intrinsic / independent of frame of reference)

reduced mass, or effective mass

Question: how much of the is dissipated if = 1, 0.5 or 0?

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Key Points on Work and Mechanical Energy:

• The displacement-integration of Newton’s second law gives the

principles of work and kinetic energy.

• You can define a potential energy with a conservative force.

• Mechanical energy might not be conserved. Be careful with the

conditions for its conservation.

• It is convenient to study collision in the center-of-mass frame

of reference (König's theorem).

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