Work and Energy

Physics1
Lecture 4
Systems and Environments
Valid systems:
• may be a single object or particle

• may be a collection of objects or particles

• may be a region of space (such as the interior

of an automobile engine combustion
cylinder)

• may vary with time in size and shape (such

as a rubber ball, which deforms upon striking
a wall)
Systems and Environments
Work Done by a Constant Force
Work Done by a Constant Force
W  Fr cos
 Work Done By A Constant Force
 Work done when a force F pushes a car through a
displacement ∆r
∆r
 .

𝑊 = 𝐹∆𝑟 cos θ
 Definition of Work
The work done on an object by a constant
force F is

𝑾 = 𝑭𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝜽 ∆𝒓

where F is the magnitude of the force, ∆r

is the magnitude of the displacement, and
θ is the angle between the force and the
displacement.
 Definition of Work
 SI Unit: newton⦁meter or joule (J)

Units of Measure for Work

System Force Distance Work

SI Newton (N) Meter (m) Joule (J)
CGS Dyne (dyn) Centimeter (cm) Erg
BE Pound (lb) Foot (ft) foot⦁pound
(ft⦁lb)
Work: Energy Transfer
Work is an energy transfer
 Quick Quiz
The figure shows four
situations in which a force
is applied to an object. In all
four cases, the force has the
same magnitude, and the
displacement of the object
is to the right and of the
same magnitude. Rank the
situations in order of the
work done by the force on
the object, from most
positive to most negative.
(c), (a), (d), (b)
 Example 1
Figure below shows a 120-kg crate on the
flatbed of a truck that is moving with an
acceleration of a=+1.5m/s2 along the positive x
axis. The crate does not slip with respect to the
truck as the truck undergoes a displacement
whose magnitude is ∆r = 65 m. What is the total
work done on the crate by all of the forces
acting on it?
∆r n
 Example 2
A man cleaning a floor pulls a vacuum cleaner
with a force of magnitude F = 50.0 N at an angle
of 30.0 with the horizontal. Calculate the work
done by the force on the vacuum cleaner as the
vacuum cleaner is displaced 3.00 m to the right.

W  F r cos 
  50.0 N  3.00 m  cos 30.0 
 130 J
Work Done by a Varying Force
xf
W  Fx x W   Fx x
xi
xf

lim  Fx x   Fx dx
xf
W   Fx dx
xf

x  0 xi xi
xi
 Example 3
(Calculating Total Work Done from a Graph)
A force acting on a particle varies with x as
shown in the figure. Calculate the work
done by the force on the particle as it
moves from x = 0 to x = 6.0 m.
 Example 3
(Calculating Total Work Done from a Graph)
WA to B   5.0 N  4.0 m   20 J
1
WB to C   5.0 N  2.0 m   5.0 J
2

WA to C  WA to B  WB to C
 20 J  5.0 J  25 J
Work Done by a Spring

Fs  kx
Work
W Done
s  Fd r by a Spring
  
  kxˆi  dxˆi
xf

Ws  xF
i  dr

  
1
  kx ˆi  dx
0x f
kx dxiˆ kx 2
max

xixmax 2
n 1 1
  n kx  dx
0
x  kxmax 2

 x dx 
 xmax

n 1
2

1 2
Ws  kxmax
2
Work Done by a Spring

1 2 1
Ws    kx  dx  kxi  kx f
xf
2
xi 2 2
 Example 4:
Measuring k for a Spring
A common technique used to measure the force
constant of a spring is demonstrated by the setup in the
figure. The spring is hung vertically, and an object of
mass m is attached to its lower
end. Under the action of the “load”
mg, the spring stretches a distance
d from its equilibrium position.
 Example 4:
Measuring k for a Spring
(A) If a spring is stretched 2.0 cm by a
suspended object having a mass of 0.55 kg,
what is the force constant of the spring?

Fx  mg  0  Fs  mg  0
 Fs  mg

mg  0.55 kg  9.80 m/s 2


k 
d 2.0  102 m
 2.7  10 N/m
2
 Example 4:
Measuring k for a Spring
(B) How much work is done by the spring on the object
as it stretches through this distance?

1 2
Ws  0  kd
2
   2.7  10 N/m  2.0  10 m 
1 2 2 2

2
2
 5.4  10 J
 Example 4:
Measuring k for a Spring
(B) How much work is done by the gravitational force
on the object as it stretches through this distance?

W  F  r   mg  d  cos 0  mgd
  0.55 kg   9.80 m/s 2
 2.0 10 2
m   1.110 J
1
 Kinetic Energy and
the Work–Kinetic Energy Theorem
Wext    Fdx
xf

xi

dv dx dv
Wext   ma dx   m dx   m dx   mv dv
xf xf xf vf

xi xi dt xi dt dx vi

1 1
Wext  mv f  mvi
2 2

2 2
1 2
K  mv
2
Wext  K f  K i  K
Kinetic Energy and the Work–Kinetic
Energy Theorem
Wext  K f  K i  K

When work is done on a system and the only change

in the system is in the speed of its members, the net
work done on the system equals the change in
kinetic energy of the system: W = K.
The Work-Energy Theorem & Kinetic Energy
 Example 5:
A 58-kg skier is coasting down a 25° slope, as Figure
a shows. Near the top of the slope, her speed is 3.6 m/s.
She accelerates down the slope because of the gravitational
force, even though a kinetic frictional force of magnitude
71 N opposes her motion. Ignoring air resistance,
determine the speed at a point that is displaced 57 m
downhill. n
∆r
 Example 6
A Block Pulled on a Frictionless Surface
A 6.0-kg block initially at rest is pulled to the right
along a frictionless, horizontal surface by a constant
horizontal force of magnitude 12 N. Find the block’s
speed after it has moved
through a horizontal
distance of 3.0 m.
 Example 6
A Block Pulled on a Frictionless Surface
1 1
Wext  K  K f  K i  mv f  0  mv f
2 2

2 2

2Wext 2 F x
vf  
m m

2 12 N  3.0 m 
vf   3.5 m/s
6.0 kg
 Example 7
A probe which has a mass of 474 kg, is traveling at
an initial speed of 275 m/s. No forces act on it except the
5.60 x 10-2 –N thrust of its engine. This external force F is
directed parallel to the displacement ∆r, which has a
magnitude of 2.42x 109 m (see Figure). Determine the final
speed of the probe, assuming that its mass remains nearly
constant.

∆r
 Gravitational Potential Energy
 Definition of Gravitational PE:
It is an energy possessed by an object
of mass m by virtue of its position
relative to the surface of the earth.

𝑷𝑬 = 𝒎𝒈𝒉

The greater the height of the hammer, the

greater is the potential for doing work, and
the greater is the gravitational potential
energy.
 Work Done by Gravitational Force
 To calculate the work done on the ball by the force of
gravity, Wgravity :
𝑾 = 𝑭𝒄𝒐𝒔𝜽 𝒔
 The displacement s is downward
and has a magnitude of
s = h0 – hf , F = mg and θ = 0°
 Since the force and displacement
are in the same direction:

𝐖𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐲 = 𝐦𝐠𝐜𝐨𝐬𝟎° 𝐡𝟎 − 𝐡𝐟
𝐖𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐲 = 𝐦𝐠 𝐡𝟎 − 𝐡𝐟
 Gravitational Potential Energy
 only the difference in vertical distances (h0 – hf) need be
considered when calculating the work done by gravity.
 Since the difference in the vertical distances is the same
for each path in the drawing, the work done by gravity is
the same in each case.
 Work Done by Gravitational Force
𝑾𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒗𝒊𝒕𝒚 = 𝒎𝒈𝒉𝟎 − 𝒎𝒈𝒉𝒇

 Therefore, the zero level for the heights can

be taken anywhere, as long as both h0 and hf
are measured relative to the same zero level.

 The concept of potential energy is associated

only with a type of force known as a
“conservative” force.
 Conservative Forces
Definition of a Conservative Force
Version 1: A force is conservative when the work
it does on a moving object is independent of the
path between the object’s initial and final
positions.
Version 2: A force is
conservative when it does no
net work on an object moving
Example:
around a closed path, starting Gravitational Force
and finishing at the same Elastic Spring Force
point. Electric Force
Conservative vs. Nonconservative Forces
•Force is nonconservative if
1.Not path independent
2.Work for closed path
not zero

E = KE + PE
Conservative vs. Nonconservative Forces

Gravitational force: conservative

Friction force: nonconservative
Nonconservative Forces
Example:
- kinetic frictional
force
- air resistance
- Tension
- normal force
- propulsion of a
rocket
Conservative vs. Nonconservative Forces
 In normal situations, conservative forces (such as gravity) and
nonconservative forces (such as friction and air resistance) act
simultaneously on an object.
 Therefore, we write the work W done by the net external force
as 𝑊𝑒𝑥𝑡 = 𝑊𝑐 + 𝑊𝑛𝑐 where Wc is the work done by the
conservative forces and Wnc is the work done by the
nonconservative forces.
 According to the work–energy theorem, the work done by the
net external force is equal to the change in the object’s kinetic
energy:
1 1
𝑊𝑐 + 𝑊𝑛𝑐 = 𝑚𝑣𝑓 − 𝑚𝑣0 2
2
2 2
 If the only conservative force acting is the gravitational force,
then 𝑊𝑐 = 𝑊𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑣𝑖𝑡𝑦 = 𝑚𝑔(ℎ0 − ℎ𝑓 ) and the work-energy
1 1
theorem becomes 𝑚𝑔(ℎ0 − ℎ𝑓 ) + 𝑊𝑛𝑐 = 𝑚𝑣𝑓 − 𝑚𝑣0 2 2
2 2
Conservative vs. Nonconservative Forces
 The work done by the gravitational force can be moved to the
right side of this equation, with the result that:
1 1
𝑊𝑛𝑐 = 𝑚𝑣𝑓 − 𝑚𝑣0 2 + 𝑚𝑔ℎ𝑓 − 𝑚𝑔ℎ0
2
2 2
 In terms of kinetic and potential energies, we find that

𝑊𝑛𝑐 = ∆𝐾𝐸 + ∆𝑃𝐸

 Therefore, the net work Wnc done by all the external
nonconservative forces equals the change in the object’s
kinetic energy plus the change in its gravitational potential
energy.
The Conservation of Mechanical Energy
 Total Mechanical Energy, E – the sum of kinetic and
gravitational potential energy
𝑬 = 𝑲𝑬 + 𝑷𝑬
 By rearranging the terms on the right side of the equation of
Wnc, the work–energy theorem can be expressed in terms of
the total mechanical energy:

𝑾𝒏𝒄 = 𝑬𝒇 − 𝑬𝟎
 It states that Wnc , the net work done by external
nonconservative forces, changes the total mechanical energy
from an initial value of E0 to a final value of Ef.
The Conservation of Mechanical Energy
 The conciseness of the work–energy theorem in the form
𝑊𝑛𝑐 = 𝐸𝑓 − 𝐸0 allows an important basic principle of physics
to stand out.
 This principle is known as the conservation of mechanical
energy.
 Suppose that the net work Wnc done by external
nonconservative forces is zero, so 𝑊𝑛𝑐 = 0 𝐽. Then,
𝑬𝒇 = 𝑬𝟎

 the total mechanical energy remains constant all along the path
between the initial and final points, never varying from the
initial value of E0
The Conservation of Mechanical Energy
 The fact that the total mechanical energy is conserved when is
called the principle of conservation of mechanical energy.
 Principle of Conservation of Mechanical Energy
- The total mechanical energy 𝐸 = 𝐾𝐸 + 𝑃𝐸 of an object
remains constant as the object moves, provided that the net
work done by external nonconservative forces is zero, 𝑊𝑛𝑐 =
0 𝐽.
 While the sum of the kinetic and potential energies at any point
is conserved, the two forms may be interconverted or
transformed into one another.
 Kinetic energy of motion is converted into potential energy of
position, when a moving object coasts up a hill.
 Potential energy is converted into kinetic energy when an
object is allowed to fall.
 Example 8
A gymnast springs vertically
upward from a trampoline as
in the figure. The gymnast
leaves the trampoline at a
height of 1.20 m and reaches
a maximum height of 4.80 m
before falling back down. All
heights are measured with
respect to the ground.
Ignoring air resistance,
determine the initial speed v0
with which the gymnast
leaves the trampoline.
 Example 9
A motorcyclist is trying to leap across the canyon
shown in the figure by driving horizontally off
the cliff at a speed of 38.0 m /s. Ignoring air
resistance, find the speed with which the cycle
strikes the ground on the other side.
 Example 10
One of the tallest and fastest roller coasters in
the world is the Steel Dragon in Mie, Japan. The
ride includes a vertical drop of 93.5 m. The
coaster has a speed of 3.0 m /s at the top of the
drop. Neglect friction and find the speed of the
riders at the bottom.
The Conservation of Mechanical Energy
 Applying the Principle of Conservation of Mechanical
Energy
1. Identify the external conservative and nonconservative
forces that act on the object. For this principle to apply, the
total work done by nonconservative forces must be zero,
Wnc = 0 J. A nonconservative force that is perpendicular to
the displacement of the object does no work, for example.
2. Choose the location where the gravitational potential
energy is taken to be zero. This location is arbitrary but
must not be changed during the course of solving a
problem.
3. Set the final total mechanical energy of the object equal to
the initial total mechanical energy. The total mechanical
energy is the sum of the kinetic and potential energies.
 Nonconservative Forces and the Work-
Energy Theorem
 Most moving objects experience nonconservative forces,
such as friction, air resistance, and propulsive forces,
and the work Wnc done by the net external
nonconservative force is not zero.

 In these situations, the difference between the final and

initial total mechanical energies is equal to Wnc,
according to the equation: 𝑊𝑛𝑐 = 𝐸𝑓 − 𝐸0 .

 Consequently, the total mechanical energy is not

conserved
 Example 11
In Example 10, we ignored nonconservative
forces, such as friction. In reality, however, such
forces are present when the roller coaster
descends. The actual speed of the riders at the
bottom is 41.0 m /s, which is less than that
determined in Example 10. Assuming again
that the coaster has a speed of 3.0 m /s at the
top, find the work done by nonconservative
forces on a 55.0-kg rider during the descent
from a height h0 to a height hf , where ℎ0 −
ℎ𝑓 = 93.5 𝑚.
 Example 12
A 0.20-kg rocket in a fireworks
display is launched from rest and
follows an erratic flight path to reach
the point P, as the figure below
shows. Point P is 29 m above the
starting point. In the process, 425 J
of work is done on the rocket by the
nonconservative force generated by
the burning propellant. Ignoring air
resistance and the mass lost due to
the burning propellant, find the
speed vf of the rocket at the point P.
 Example 13
A Block Pulled on a Rough Surface
A 6.0-kg block initially at rest is pulled to the right
along a horizontal surface by a constant horizontal
force of magnitude 12 N.
(A) Find the speed of the
block after it has moved
3.0 m if the surfaces in
contact have a coefficient
of kinetic friction of 0.15.
 Example 13
A Block Pulled on a Rough Surface
 B  Suppose the force F is applied at an angle  as
shown in the figure. At what angle should the force be
applied to achieve the largest possible speed after the
block has moved 3.0 m to the right?
 Example 14
A Block-Spring System
A block of mass 1.6 kg is attached
to a horizontal spring that has a
force constant of 1 000 N/m as
shown in the top figure. The
spring is compressed 2.0 cm and
is then released from rest as in the
bottom figure.
(A) Calculate the speed of the
block as it passes through the
equilibrium position x = 0 if the
surface is frictionless.
 Example 14
A Block-Spring System
vi = 0 at xi = –2.0 cm, what is vf at xf = 0?

1 2
K  Ws Ws  kxmax
2

1 1 2 k
mv f  0  kxmax  v f  xmax
2

2 2 m

1000 N/m
v f   0.020 m   0.50 m/s
1.6 kg
 Example 14
A Block-Spring System
(B) Calculate the speed of the block as it passes through
the equilibrium position if a constant friction force of
4.0 N retards its motion from the moment it is released.
1 
K  Eint  Ws   mv f  0   f k d  Ws
2

2 
2 2 1 2 
vf  Ws  f k d  vf   kxmax  f k d 
m2
m 
2 1 
vf  1000 N/m  0.20 m    4.0 N  0.020 m 
2

1.6 kg  2 
 0.39 m/s
 Example 14
A Block-Spring System
What if the friction force were increased to 10.0 N?
What is the block’s speed at x = 0?

f k d  10.0 N  0.20 m   0.20 J

 Example 15
Crate Sliding Down a Ramp
A 3.00-kg crate slides down a ramp. The ramp is
1.00 m in length and inclined at an angle of 30.0 as
shown in the figure. The crate starts from rest at the
top and experiences a constant friction force of
magnitude 5.00 N. The crate continues to move a
short distance on the horizontal floor after it leaves
the ramp, and then comes
to rest.
(A) Use energy methods to
determine the speed of the crate
at the bottom of the ramp.
 Example 15
Crate Sliding Down a Ramp
K  U g  Eint  0

1 
 mv f  0    0  mgyi   f k d  0
2

2 

2
vf   mgyi  f k d 
m

 3.00 kg   9.80 m/s 2   0.500 m    5.00 N 1.00 m  

2
vf 
3.00 kg  

 2.54 m/s
 Example 15
Crate Sliding Down a Ramp
(B) How far does the crate slide on the horizontal floor
if it continues to experience a friction force of
magnitude 5.00 N?
K  E  Eint  0

 0  0    0  mgyi   f k d total  0

mgyi  3.00 kg   9.80 m/s 2   0.500 m 

d total    2.94 m
fk 5.00 N
 Example 15
Crate Sliding Down a Ramp
A cautious worker decides that the speed of the crate
when it arrives at the bottom of the ramp may be so
large that its contents may be damaged. Therefore, he
replaces the ramp with a longer one such that the new
ramp makes an angle of 25.0 with the ground. Does
this new ramp reduce the speed of the crate as it
reaches the ground?
0.500 m 0.500 m
sin 25.0  d   1.18 m
d sin 25.0
 3.00 kg   9.80 m/s 2   0.500 m    5.00 N 1.18 m  
2
vf 
3.00 kg  

 2.42 m/s
 Example 16
Block-Spring Collision
A block having a mass of 0.80 kg is given an initial
velocity vA = 1.2 m/s to the right and collides with a
spring whose mass is
negligible and whose force
constant is k = 50 N/m as
shown in the figure.
(A) Assuming the surface to
be frictionless, calculate the
maximum compression of
the spring after the collision.
 Example 16
Block-Spring Collision

K  U  0

 1 2 1 2 
 0  mvA    kxmax  0   0
 2  2 

m 0.80 kg
xmax  vA  1.2 m/s   0.15 m
k 50 N/m
 Example 16
Block-Spring Collision
(B) Suppose a constant force of kinetic friction acts
between the block and the surface, with k = 0.50. If
the speed of the block at the moment it collides with
the spring is vA = 1.2 m/s, what is the maximum
compression xC in the spring?
 Example 16
Block-Spring Collision
f k  k n  k mg
K  U  Eint  0

 1 2 1 
 0  mvA    kxC  0   k mgxC  0
2

 2  2 
kxC 2  2k mgxC  mvA 2  0

k mg  kvA2 
xC    1  2 2  1
k   mg 
 k 
xC  0.092 m or  0.25 m
 Example 17
Connected Blocks in Motion
Two blocks are connected by a light string that passes
over a frictionless pulley as shown in the figure. The
block of mass m1 lies on a horizontal surface and is
connected to a spring of force constant k. The system is
released from rest when the spring is unstretched. If the
hanging block of mass m2
falls a distance h before
coming to rest, calculate the
coefficient of kinetic friction
between the block of mass
m1 and the surface.
 Example 17
Connected Blocks in Motion
U g  U gf  U gi U s  U sf  U si

K  U g  U s  Eint  0

1 2 
 0  0    0  m2 gh    kh  0   f k h  0
2 
1 2
m2 gh  kh  k m1 gh  0
2
1
m2 g  kh
k  2
m1 g
 Power
 In many situations, the time it takes to do work is just as
important as the amount of work that is done.
 In physics, the horsepower rating is just one way to measure an
engine’s ability to generate power.
 The idea of power incorporates both the concepts of work and
time, for power is work done per unit time.
 Definition of Power:
- Average power P is the average rate at which work W is done,
and it is obtained by dividing W by the time t required to
perform the work:
𝑊𝑜𝑟𝑘 𝑊
𝑷= =
𝑇𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑡
 SI Unit of Power:
joule/s = J/s = watt (W)
Power
dE W
P Pavg 
dt t
Instantaneous Power
W dW
P  lim 
t  0 t dt

dW  F  dr

dW dr
P  F  Fv
dt dt

dr
v
dt
 Units of Power
1 W  1 J/s  1 kg  m /s
2 3

1 hp  746 W

1 kWh  103 W   3600 s   3.60 106 J

 0.100 kW 1.00 h   0.100 kWh  3.60 10 5

J
 Power
 However, the work–energy theorem relates this work to the
change in the energy of the object.
 Therefore, we can also define average power as the rate at
which the energy is changing, or as the change in energy
divided by the time during which the change occurs:
𝐶ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝐸𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑦
𝑷=
𝑇𝑖𝑚𝑒
 Since work, energy, and time are scalar quantities, power is
also a scalar quantity.
 One joule per second is called a watt (W), in honor of James
Watt (1736–1819), the developer of the steam engine.
 The unit of power in the BE system is the foot·pound per
second (ft·lb/s), although the familiar horsepower (hp) unit is
used frequently for specifying the power generated by electric
motors and internal combustion engines:
𝟏 𝒉𝒐𝒓𝒔𝒆𝒑𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓 = 𝟓𝟓𝟎 𝒇𝒐𝒐𝒕 ∙ 𝒑𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒔/𝒔𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒅 = 𝟕𝟒𝟓. 𝟕 𝒘𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒔
 Power
 Units of Measurement for Power
Syste Work ÷ Time = Power
m
SI joule (J) second (s) watt (W)
CGS erg second (s) erg/s
BE ft·lb second (s) ft·lb/s
𝐶ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝐸𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑦
 The formula 𝑷 = ,
provides the basis for
𝑇𝑖𝑚𝑒
understanding the production of power in the human body.
 Human Metabolic Rates
Activity Rate (W)
Running (15 km/h) 1340 W
Skiing 1050 W
Biking 530 W
Walking (5 km/h) 280 W
Sleeping 77 W
 Power
 An alternative expression for power can be obtained from
the equation W=(Fcosθ)s, which indicates that the work W
done when a constant net force of magnitude F points in the
same direction as the displacement is 𝑊 = 𝐹𝑐𝑜𝑠0° 𝑠 = 𝐹𝑠

 Dividing both sides of this equation by the time t it takes for

the force to move the object through the distance s, we
obtain
𝑊 𝐹𝑠
=
𝑡 𝑡

 But W/t is the average power P , and s/t is the average speed
𝒗, so that
𝑃 = 𝐹𝑣
 Example 18
A car, starting from rest, accelerates in the +𝑥
direction (see Figure). It has a mass of
1.10𝑥103 𝑘𝑔 and maintains an acceleration of
+ 4.60 𝑚/𝑠 2 for 5.00 s. Assume that a single
horizontal force (not shown) accelerates the
vehicle. Determine the average power generated
by this force.
 Example 19
Power Delivered by an Elevator Motor
An elevator car has a mass of 1 600 kg
and is carrying passengers having a
combined mass of 200 kg. A constant
friction force of 4 000 N retards its
motion.
(A) How much power must a motor
deliver to lift the elevator car and its
passengers at a constant speed of
3.00 m/s?
 Example 19
Power Delivered by an Elevator Motor

F y  T  f  Mg  0

T  Mg  f

P  T  v  Tv   Mg  f  v

P  1800 kg   9.80 m/s    4000 N    3.00 m/s 

 2

 6.49  104 W
 Example 19
Power Delivered by an Elevator Motor
(B) What power must the motor deliver at the instant
the speed of the elevator is v if the motor is designed
to provide the elevator car with an upward
acceleration of 1.00 m/s2?
 Example 19
Power Delivered by an Elevator Motor
F y  T  f  Mg  Ma
T  M a  g   f

P  Tv   M  a  g   f  v

P  1800 kg  1.00 m/s 2  9.80 m/s 2   4 000 N  v

  2.34  10 N  v
4

P   2.34  104   3.00 m/s   7.02  104 W

Other Forms of Energy and the Conservation
of Energy
 In general, energy of all types can be converted from
one form to another.
 Whenever energy is transformed from one form to
another, it is found that no energy is gained or lost in the
process; the total of all the energies before the process
is equal to the total of the energies after the process.
This observation leads to the following important
principle:

 Principle of Conservation of Energy

- Energy can neither be created nor destroyed, but can
only be converted from one form to another.
 Sample Problems
1. The brakes of a truck cause it to slow down by applying a
retarding force of 3.0 𝑥 103 𝑁 to the truck over a distance of
850 m. What is the work done by this force on the truck? Is the
work positive or negative? Why?
2. Two cars, A and B, are traveling with the same speed of 40.0
m/s, each having started from rest. Car A has a mass of
1.20 𝑥 103 𝑘𝑔, and car B has a mass of 2.00 𝑥 103 𝑘𝑔. Compared
to the work required to bring car A up to speed, how much
additional work is required to bring car B up to speed?
3. “Rocket man” has a propulsion unit strapped to his back. He
starts from rest on the ground, fires the unit, and is propelled
straight upward. At a height of 16 m, his speed is 5.0 m/s. His
mass, including the propulsion unit, has the approximately
constant value of 136 kg. Find the work done by the force
generated by the propulsion unit.
 Sample Problems
4. A 2.00-kg rock is released from rest at a height of 20.0 m.
Ignore air resistance and determine the kinetic energy,
gravitational potential energy, and total mechanical energy at
each of the following heights: 20.0, 10.0, and 0 m.
5. A 5.00 𝑥 102 − 𝑘𝑔 hot-air balloon takes off from rest at the
surface of the earth. The nonconservative wind and lift forces
take the balloon up, doing +9.70 𝑥 104 𝐽 of work on the balloon
in the process. At what height above the surface of the earth
does the balloon have a speed of 8.00 m/s?
6. The motor of a ski boat generates an average power of
7.50 𝑥 104 𝑊 when the boat is moving at a constant speed of 12
m/s. When the boat is pulling a skier at the same speed, the
engine must generate an average power of 8.30 × 104 W. What
is the tension in the tow rope that is pulling the skier?