AP Physics – Work and Energy – 1

1. How much work is done on a 55 N package you carry horizontally for a distance of 12 m? None, if the velocity is
constant then the force applied (the weight of the package) is not in the direction of motion.
2. How much work is done on a 625 N rock that you lift 0.85 m? W = Fs = 625 N ( 0.85 ) = 531 J
3. You apply a 225 N force to a heavy crate with a rope that makes a 27.0° angle with the horizontal, if you pull the
crate a distance of 3.50 m, how much work was done?
W = ( F cos θ ) s = ( 225 N ) cos 27.00 ( 3.50 m ) = 702 J
4. You pull a 55.5 kg wooden box with a rope that makes a 28.0° angle with the horizontal at a constant speed. The
coefficient of kinetic friction between the box and the deck is 0.330. You pull the crate a distance of 2.25 m. How
much work was done?
Constant speed: f = Fcos θ n F sin θ
F
f = F cosθ f = μ n 0 = n + F sin θ − mg n = mg − F sin θ
θ
f = F cosθ = μ ( mg − F sin θ ) = μ mg − μ F sin θ
f F cos θ
F cosθ + μ F sin θ = μ mg F ( cosθ + μ sin θ ) = μ mg mg
⎛ m⎞
0.330 ( 55.5 kg ) ⎜ 9.8 2 ⎟
μ mg ⎝ s ⎠
F= = = 172.9 N
cosθ + μ sin θ cos 28 + 0.330 sin 28o
o
( )
(
W = ( F cosθ ) s = 172.9 N cos 28o ( 2.25 m ) = ) 344 N
5. A bear with a mass of 218 kg runs up a hill. At the top of the hill, she has gained 23.5 kJ of potential energy. How
high was the hill?
kg ⋅ m ⋅ m
23 500
PE s2
PE = mgy y= = = 11.0 m
mg
( 218 kg ) 9.8 sm2
6. A 1.25 kg rock is thrown with a velocity of 12.5 m/s at an angle of 43.0° to the horizontal. (a) How much kinetic
energy does it have when it is initially released? (b) What is its kinetic energy at the highest point in its trajectory?
2
1 1 ⎛ m⎞
(a) K = mv 2 = (1.25 kg ) ⎜12.5 ⎟ = 97.7 J
2 2 ⎝ s⎠
(b) vx = v cos θ = 12.5 ( cos 43.00 ) = 9.142
m m
s s
2
1 1 ⎛ m⎞
K = mv 2 = (1.25 kg ) ⎜ 9.14 ⎟ = 52.2 J
2 2 ⎝ s⎠
7. A 2.00 kg bullet leaves the barrel of a gun at a speed of 40.0 m/s. (a) Find its kinetic energy, (b) Find the average
force exerted on the bullet by the expanding gases as the bullet moves through the length of the 50.0 cm barrel.
2

( 2.00 kg ) ⎛⎜ 40.0 ⎞⎟
1 2 1 m
(a) K= mv = = 1 600 J = 1.60 kJ
2 2 ⎝ s⎠
⎛ 1 ⎞⎛ ⎞
2
v2 ⎛ m⎞ 1 m
v = vi + 2ad a= = ⎜ 40.0 ⎟ = 1 600
2 2
(b) ⎜ ⎟⎜ ⎟
2d ⎝ s⎠ ⎝ 2 ⎠ ⎝ 0.500 m ⎠ s2
⎛ m⎞
F = ma = 2.00 kg ⎜1 600 2 ⎟ = 3.20 x 103 N
⎝ s ⎠ OR
W = fx
1600 J = F (.50m )
F = 3200 N

8. Three blocks of masses 1.0, 2.0, and 4.0 kilograms are connected by massless strings, one of which
passes over a frictionless pulley of negligible mass, as shown below. Calculate each of the following.
a. The acceleration of the 4.0 kilogram block.
b. The tension in the string supporting the 4.0 kilogram block.
c. The tension in the string connected to the 1.0 kilogram block.
(a) t1 − m1g = m1a t2 − t1 − m2 g = m2 a m3 g − t2 = m3a
t1 − m1g + ( t2 − t1 − m2 g ) + ( m3 g − t2 ) = m1a + m2 a + m3a
g ( m3 − m1 − m2 )
− m1g − m2 g + m3 g = m1a + m2a + m3a a=
m1 + m2 + m3 t2
t1 t2

9.8 2 ( 4.0 kg − 2.0 kg − 1.0 kg )

m
s m
a= = 1.4
4.0 kg + 2.0 kg + 1.0 kg s2 m1g t1 m2 g m3 g

⎛ m m⎞
(b) m3 g − t2 = m3a t2 = m3 ( g − a ) = 4.0 kg ⎜ 9.8 2 − 1.4 2 ⎟ = 34 N
⎝ s s ⎠
⎛ m m⎞
(c) t1 − m1g = m1a t1 = m1 ( g + a ) = 1.0 kg ⎜ 9.8 2 + 1.4 2 ⎟ = 11 N
⎝ s s ⎠