Chapter 4 : Work Energy and Power

1. Define work, and state the relationship between work and energy.

Work dW  F  ds where W = work, F= force acting , s = displacement
Or 
Work , W  F  s where W = work, F= force acting , s = displacement

Work can be changed to energy / Energy is used to do work / Work is equivalent to

energy
Note : (Work is directly proportional to energy) is NOT accepted.

2. Using Newton's second law of motion, show that the work done on an object is
equal to the change in its kinetic energy. [3 marks]

(ii) F = ma
Work =  Fdx
=  madx
dv
=  m dt dx
dv dx
=  m dx  dt dx
=  mvdv
1 1
= mv 2  mu 2
2 2
OR
W = Fs = mas
v2  u2
as 
2
1 1
W = = mv 2  mu 2
2 2

3. Define Work done by a constant force.

The work done by a constant force F when the displacement of its point of application ,
s is given by the scalar product of F and s
Or
Work done = F . s where F is the constant force and s is the displacement of its
point of application.

4. Give the integral equation used to calculate work done by a variable force.

Work done =  F dx where F is the variable force and x is the displacement.

5. Give the integral equation used to calculate work done by a gas during
expansion.
Work done =  p dV where p is the pressure of the gas and V is its volume.
6. What is meant by energy?

Energy enables a body to do work.

7. What is meant by kinetic energy.

Kinetic energy is the energy possessed by a body due to its motion.

8. What is meant by potential energy?

Potential energy is the energy of a body due to its relative position or physical condition.

9. Explain the Principle of Conservation of Energy.

Energy cannot be created nor destroyed but it can be transformed from one form to
another.

10. Give the differential equation that relates force and potential energy.

dU
Force  
dx

11. Define Power.

Power is the rate of doing work

12. Write down the formula used to calculate efficiency.

Work done by machine

Efficiency   100%
Energy Input

Output power
Efficiency   100%
Input power

13. Explain why the efficiency of a machine cannot exceed 100%

If the efficiency is greater than 100%, it means that the output energy is more than the
input energy. Energy has been created by the machine. This contradicts the principle of
conservation of energy.

14. The efficiency of a machine is always less than 100%. What happens to the
energy loss?

To do work against friction which finally appears as heat.