Work, Energy and Power

The term work was introduced in 1826 by the French mathematician Gaspard-Gustave Coriolis as
"weight lifted through a height", which is based on the use of early steam engines to lift buckets of
water out of flooded ore mines.

Work refers to an activity involving a force and movement in the direction of the force. A force of
20 Newton’s pushing an object 5 meters in the direction of the force does 100 joules of work.

Energy is the capacity for doing work. You must have energy to accomplish work - it is like the
"currency" for performing work. To do 100 joules of work, you must expend 100 joules of energy.

Power is the rate of doing work or the rate of using energy, which are numerically the same. If you
do 100 joules of work in one second (using 100 joules of energy), the power is 100 watts.

Work

If force is applied on an object and if there is a displacement of the object, then the product of the
force and the component of displacement along the direction of force is called work.

The SI unit of work is the newton-metre or joule (J).

W = F. x = F x cos 𝜽

∆𝐱

The work done by a constant force of magnitude F on a point that moves a displacement (not
distance) s in the direction of the force is the product,

W=Fs

In atomic physics, another convenient unit of work is often used. It is called electron-volt (eV).
The amount of energy acquired by an electron in moving through a potential difference of 1 volt is
called 1 electron volt (1 eV).

Work Done by Gravity

Gravitational force is all pervading force that is acting! Let’s assume that a particle is falling, the
particle points in the direction of gravity. Its magnitude depends on how much is the mass m,
gravitational constant g and from what height it is falling h!

The Work done by gravity formula is given by,

W=mg×h

Where, m=mass of the object, g=gravitational acceleration and h=height of the object from its
original position.

Here, the direction of gravitational force and displacement are both downward, hence work is
positive.

Let an object of mass m be thrown directly upward against the force of gravitation. Let h be the
height it reached. So, the work done
Work done by gravity

W = m g h.

mg
h
But, since the direction of gravitational force and

displacement are opposite to each other, so the work

done is negative.
Examples of work done by variable forces

➢ Work done in expanding a spring

Let one end of a horizontal ideal spring be fastened with a wall. Now, if we apply force then the
spring will be strained along its length.

xf

- xf

According to Hooke’s law, within elastic limit, the magnitude of restoring force will be equal to the
applied force.

Let, x be the extension of length of the spring along the horizontal direction due to the application of
horizontal force Fspring. Due to this action, a restoring force – kx will be developed. This is because

Fspring ∝ x

Fspring = - k x

Here, k is a constant. This is called spring constant. (Since, restoring force is against the
displacement, negative sign is introduced.)

In order to expand the spring, equal amount of external force is to be applied in the spring.

Let F be the applied force,

F = - Fs

F = - ( - kx)

F = kx

In expanding the spring from position xo to position xf , work done is given by

x
W = ∫x f F . d x (Angle between F and dx is 0)
0
 x
= ∫x f k x dx
0

x
= k ∫x f x dx
0

1 x
= 2 k [x 2 ]xf0

1
W = 2 k (xf2 − x02 )

1 1
W = 2 k xf2 - 2 k x02

This work is positive, which remains stored as potential energy in the spring.

Since, x0 = 0 and xf = x then

1
W=2kx2

If displacement is x then this is stored as potential energy.

Energy

Energy of a body is the capacity or ability to do work. It is measured by the amount of work the body
can do.

Energy can exist in many different forms. All forms of energy are either kinetic or potential. The
energy associated with motion is called kinetic energy. The energy associated with position is called
potential energy. Potential energy is not "stored energy". Energy can be stored in motion just as well
as it can be stored in position.
Kinetic Energy

In physics, the kinetic energy of an object is the energy that it possesses due to its motion. It is
defined as the work needed to accelerate a body of a given mass from rest to its stated velocity.

In classical mechanics, the kinetic energy of a non-rotating object of mass m traveling at a speed v is
𝟏
(K.E) or 𝐄𝐤 = 𝐦𝐯𝟐 .
𝟐

In relativistic mechanics, this is a good approximation only when v is much less than the speed of
light.

The standard unit of kinetic energy is the joule.

Measurement of kinetic energy

➢ In case of translational energy

Let an object of mass m moves along AB at velocity v. A constant force is applied in the opposite
direction along BA. So, a negative acceleration or deceleration is created in the object. Let the
deceleration be a and the object starting from A, stops at B, after travelling a distance s. So, the final
velocity = 0.

Kinetic energy of the object

= work done against applied force before it comes to rest

= force × distance

Kinetic energy (K.E) = F × s …………………….. (1)

From, Newton’s law of motion

F=ma

According to the description

v 2= u 2- 2 a s

0 = u 2- 2 a s
u2
s = 2a

Putting the value of F and s into the equation number (1)

u2
K.E = ma × 2a

1
K.E = 2 mv 2

1
Kinetic energy = 2 (mass of the object × square of the velocity of the object)

We know, if a body of mass m mover with a velocity v, then the momentum p = mv and its kinetic
1
energy, Ek = 2 m v 2

1 (𝑚𝑣)2
Ek = 2 m

p2
Ek = 2m

This is the relation between the kinetic energy and momentum.

Work – Energy theorem

Let a force F be applied on an object of mass m and the velocity of the object changes from v 1 to v2,
when the object travels a distance s, then

v2 2 = v1 2 + 2 a s

v22 − v21
s= 2a

So, the work done by the force

W=F×s

v22 − v21
= ma × 2a

1
= 2 m (v22 − v12 )

1 1
= 2m v22 - 2 m v12

=final kinetic energy – Initial kinetic energy

= Increase in kinetic energy of the object

Hence, change in kinetic energy of an object is equal to the net work done by the applied force.
It is the work - energy theorem.

Potential Energy

In physics, potential energy is the energy that an object has due to its position in a force field or that
a system has due to the configuration of its shield.

Common types include the gravitational potential energy of an object that depends on its mass and its
distance from the center of mass of another object, the elastic potential energy of an extended spring,
and the electric potential energy of an electric charge in an electric field.

The unit for energy in the International System of Units (SI) is the joule, which has the symbol J.

The term potential energy was introduced by the 19th century Scottish engineer and physicist
William Rankine, although it has links to Greek philosopher Aristotle's concept of potentiality.
Potential energy is associated with forces that act on a body in a way that depends only on the body's
position in space. These forces can be represented by a vector at every point in space forming a
vector field of forces, or a force field.
Measurement of Potential energy

✓ Gravitational Potential Energy

To raise a body above the ground against the gravitational force, an external source or agent is
needed. Work remains stored in the body as potential energy. This energy is called Gravitational
potential energy.

In this case the surface of the earth is considered as the reference level.

Let an object of mass m be raised above the earth surface to a height of dh against the force due to
gravity.

So, the work done due to this

dW = F. dh

dW = F. dh

Here, F = force applied by the external source, dh= vertical height. The angle between F and dh is 0.
 F

To raise a body above, a vertical force equal to the weight of the body is to be applied.

Applied force = weight of the body = mg

So

Gravitational potential energy = total work done in raising the body to the height h above the ground
h
P.E = ∫0 F. dh

h
= ∫0 mg . dh

For small height g is constant (assumed) and we can write

h
P.E = 𝑚𝑔 ∫0 dh

P.E = mgh

Therefore, Gravitational Potential Energy = mass × Acceleration due to gravity × height above the
reference level.

✓ Elastic Potential Energy

Elastic potential energy is Potential energy stored as a result of deformation of an elastic object,
such as the stretching of a spring. It is equal to the work done to stretch the spring, which depends
upon the spring constant k as well as the distance stretched.

According to Hooke's law, the force required to stretch the spring will be directly proportional to the
amount of stretch.

Since the force has the form

F = - k x ……………… (1)

Where, k is called the force constant or spring constant.

Now to stretch the spring, we must do work by applying a force F ‘ equal but opposite to the force
exerted by the spring.

So

F’ = - F

= - ( - kx )

=kx

This work remains stored as potential energy in the spring. Then, the potential energy
𝑥
U = W = ∫0 𝐹. 𝑑𝑥
𝑥
U = ∫0 𝑘 𝑥 . 𝑑𝑥
𝑥
U = k ∫0 𝑥 . 𝑑𝑥
𝑥
𝑥2
U=k[ ]
2 0

1
U = 2 k 𝑥2

While compressing the spring by x, same amount of energy will remain stored as potential energy in
the spring.