Chapter 4

Power and Efficiency

Concept of Work
Whenever a force acting on an object produces movement, work
is done by the force on the object and produces change in
energy.
Definition of Work
Work is defined as the scalar
product of the force and the
displacement.
W =Fcosθ s
W =⃗
F . ⃗s

If a man lift an object to a certain height “h”, the PE=mgh

potential energy will change. The change in mg

potential energy is equal to the work done on the h

object.
W =∆ PE=PE final −PE initial=mgh−0=mgh PE= 0
mg

1
W= Fs =ma s ¿ 2 m2 as
Similarly, W =∆ KE
v 2=v 20 +2 as Work is equal to change in
v 2−v 20 =2 as energy.
2
1 2 1 2 1
W = m( v ¿¿ 2−v 0)= m v − m v ¿
2 2 2 0

W =KE final −KE initial =∆ KE

Power P
Power is defined as the rate of doing work.
W
P=
t
Fs s
P= =F =F ⃗v
t t

For uniform motion(velocity=constant), ⃗v =v

P=Fv

Units of Work done and Power

Physical British Metric
Quantity System CGS MKS SI
(FPS)
work ft-lb Dyne-cm=erg N-m=joule(J) J
power ft-lb s-1 Erg s-1 J s-1 =watt(W) W
Unit of power in British engineering unit – horse power(hp)
Unit relations
Power is not a fundamental concept
1kW=10 W3
like energy but it is very important
concept for engineering works. For
1MW=106W example, car engines, water pumps,
refrigerators, air conditioners and
1W =1Js-1=107 erg s-1 electric bulbs, etc., are specified
according to their power consumption.
1hp = 550ft-lb s-1=746W=746x107 erg s-1
Simple Machine
A simple machine is a mechanical device that amplifies the
magnitude of a force and change its position.
Simple machines are used to make work easier.
The six simple machines are lever, wheel and axel, pulley,
inclined plane and wedge.
Efficiency of a Machine
The ratio of output work to input work is defined as efficiency
of the machine.
W out
efficiency = ×100 %
W¿

It is impossible, in practice, to build a perfect machine for which output work s equal to input work;
input work always exceeds output work. Therefore, the efficiency of a machine must always less than
100%.
Mechanical Advantage (MA)
If a load L is raised steadily
by a machine when an effort Effort E
E is applied, the mechanical
advantage of machine is Load L
defined as the ratio of load
In practice, all of the effort cannot lift the load, some of
to effort. it spent in overcoming frictional force present.
Load L Therefore, MA of a machine depends on the friction
MA= = present.
effort E
Since load L > effort E, MA is always greater than 1.

Velocity Ratio (VR)

The ratio of the distance moved by effort to that of the load in
the same time is called the velocity ratio of the machine.
distance moved by effort s
VR= = effort
distance moved by the load ∈the same time s load

Since seffort >s load , MA is always greater than1.

Efficiency Related to MA and VR
output work
efficiency = ×100 %
input work
 load ×distance by load
efficiency = ×100 %
effort ×distance by effort
load
effort
efficiency = ×100 %
distance by effort
distance by load
MA
efficiency = × 100 %
VR

The Stretching of Coil Spring

Elasticity
Ability to retain the original form when the applied force is
removed is called elasticity.
Elastic Limit
Elastic limit is different for
Elastic limit is a limit, beyond different elastic object.
which if an elastic object is
stretched, it will not return to its original form.
Stress F is the applied force to elastic object.
Strain x is the elongation of elastic object.
Hooke’s Law
As long as the elastic limit of a body is not
exceeded, the strain produced is proportional
to stress causing it.
F∝x or F=kx where k= spring constant
(Nm-1)
Elastic Potential Energy of Spring
Strain x vs stress F graph
Strain

x
 F Stress

If spring is compressed or stretched an extension x, the work is

done by the applied force. This work done is stored as the
potential energy of the spring. the area under a strain vs stress
graph gives the work done by the force.
1
W =∆ PE=areaunder the curve= × base ×height
2
1 1
W =∆ PE= Fx= kx x
2 2
1
W =∆ PE= k x 2
2

Sources of Energy
Energy is the ability to do work.
Energy sources can be PE=0 classified as
two major sources: PE=1/2kx2 ) conventional
sources and non- conventional sources.
Sources of Energy
Conventional sources Non- conventional sources
 Coal  Solar energy
 Petroleum  Wind energy
 Electricity  Tidal energy
 Fire wood  Biomass energy
 Straw  Energy from urban waste
 Dried dung
Conventional energy sources are non-renewable energy sources.
Non-conventional energy sources are renewable energy sources.
Renewable Energy Sources
Renewable energy sources are sustainable sources. A renewable
energy sources is generated from unlimited natural sources (eg.
Sun, wind, hydropower) and is replenished and are safe to the
environment.
Solar Energy
Sun is primary source of energy. It is clean renewable energy
source. It is sustainable resource. Using photovoltaic
technology, solar energy can be converted to electricity.
Wind Energy
Wind is the natural movement of air across land or sea. The
wind can turn the blades of windmill and then turn the shaft of
generator. The movement of shaft of the generator produces
electricity.
Hydro Energy
The tides in the sea, the flowing water in river or from the dams
are sources of hydro energy. Hydro energy uses flowing water to
power machinery and generate electricity.
Eg. Grain grinding machine, hydroelectric energy plant.
Tidal Energy
Tidal energy is another form of hydro energy that uses tidal
current twice-daily to drive turbine generator.
Geothermal Energy
Geothermal means heat generated by earth. Geothermal energy
is heat stored on the earth crust and being used for Electric
generation and also for direct heat application.
Biomass Energy
Biomass is plant or animal materials used as fuel to produce
electricity or heat. The agricultural waste, wood, charcoal or
dried dung are used as biomass. Biomass ca be converted into
other forms of energy such as methane gas, ethanol and
biodiesel.
Non- renewable Energy Sources
Non- renewable energy comes from the sources that will run out
or will not be replenished for thousand or even millions of years.
Four main type non- renewable energy sources are oil, natural
gas, coal and nuclear energy. Oil, natural gas and coal are
collectively called fossil fuel which were formed within the
earth from dead plants and animals over millions of years. Non-
renewable energy can be used for electricity, heating,
manufacturing and transportation.
Nuclear Energy
Nuclear energy is produced by using elements like uranium and
thorium which cannot be replenished. Nuclear energy can be
used to generate electricity by means of fission.