LECTURE NOTES IN ENGINEERING MECHANICS

CHAPTER 6 – WORK, ENERGY, AND POWER

6.1 Kinetic Energy

Kinetic energy is an energy associated with the motion of a moving object. It is
defined as one-half the product of a moving object’s mass and the square of its
speed:

1 2
KE= m v
2
Note that, by definition, kinetic energy is always positive or equal to zero, and it is
only zero for an object at rest. The units of kinetic energy are kg m 2/s2. Because
energy is such an important quantity, it has its own SI unit, the joule (J). The SI
force unit, 1 N = 1 kg m/s2, thus 1 joule = 1 N-m.

6.2 Potential energy

Potential energy is the energy something possesses by virtue of its position. The
potential energy is,

PE=mgh

6.3 Work
Work is the energy transferred to or from an object as the result of the action of a
force. Positive work is a transfer of energy to the object, and negative work is a
transfer of energy from the object.

6.4 Work Done by a Constant Force

The work done by the net force is equal to the sum of the work done by the
individual forces.

W =∑ Fd

Note: Work done is positive if it is towards the motion and negative if it is

against the motion.

6.5 Work Done by the Gravitational Force

The force of gravity is a conservative force. The work done by the gravitational force
is completely determined by the change in height of the mass m,

W =−mg △ y=−mg( y f − y i)

6.6 Work Done by a Variable Force

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In a case of motion in one dimension with a variable x-component of force, Fx(x), the
work is

x2

W =∫ F x ( x) dx
x1

6.7 Work Done by the Spring Force

The displacement of a spring is a case of motion in one spatial dimension. Thus, we
can apply the one-dimensional integral of equation 4.6 to find the work done by the
spring force in moving from x1 to x2. The result is

1 2 1 2
W =−( k x 2 − k x 1 )
2 2

If we set x0 = 0 and start at the equilibrium position, the equation will become,

−1 2
W= kx
2
where k is the spring constant

6.7 Work–Kinetic Energy Theorem

The relationship between kinetic energy of an object and the work done by the
force(s) acting on it, called the work–kinetic energy theorem, is expressed
formally as

△ KE=∑ W

Where, K is the kinetic energy that an object has after work W has been done on it.

6.8 Power
Power is the rate at which work is done. Mathematically, this means that the power,
P, is the time derivative of the work, W:

dW
P=
dt

The SI unit of power is the watt (W). 1W= 1 J/s = 1 kg-m2/s3.

SAMPLE PROBLEM 6.1

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LECTURE NOTES IN ENGINEERING MECHANICS

What is the kinetic energy of a 70 kg man running along at 6 m/s?

Solution:
Given: Mass, m = 70 kg
Velocity, v = 6 m/s

Kinetic Energy, KE

SAMPLE PROBLEM 6.2

What is the gravitational potential energy of a100 kg man at a height of h = 74 m
above the ground?

Solution:
Given: Mass, m = 100 kg
Elevation, h = 74 m

Potential Energy with respect to the ground, PE

SAMPLE PROBLEM 6.3

How much work must be done to move a 35 kg box 4 m across the floor if the
coefficient of kinetic friction between the box and the floor is 0.2.

Solution:
Given: Mass, m = 35 kg
Displacement, d = 4 m
Coefficient of kinetic friction, μk = 0.2

F F

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The block will move with constant velocity if the force F must be applied is equal to
the friction force, thus,

By inspection, the normal force N is equal to the weight of the box, so we have,

Hence, the work must be done is,

SAMPLE PROBLEM 6.4

How much work is done by gravity when a 85 kg diver jumps from a height of 5 m
into the water?
Solution:
Given: Mass, m = 85 kg
Change in height, Δy = 5 m

Work done due to gravity

SAMPLE PROBLEM 6.5

A particle of mass m is subjected to a force acting in the x-direction. Fx(x) = (3 + 0.5x)
N. Find the work done by the force as the particle moves from x = 0.00 to x = 4.00 m.

Solution:

Fx(0) Fx(x) Fx(4)

x

x
x=4
x=0
Work Done by a Variable Force

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SAMPLE PROBLEM 6.6

An ideal spring has the spring constant k = 440 N/m. Calculate the distance this
spring must be stretched from its equilibrium position for 25 J of work to be done.

Solution:

Let: δ = deformation of the spring

δ = x2 – x1

Work Done by the Spring Force

At equilibrium position, x1 = 0, thus,

SAMPLE PROBLEM 6.7

Calculate the velocity v of the 50 kg crate when it reaches the bottom of the chute at
B if it is given an initial velocity of 4 m /s down the chute at A. The coefficient of
kinetic friction is 0.20.
A

15 m
B
18˚
 

Solution:
y
mg
Let: 18˚
W1 = Work done by the friction force x A
W2 = Work done due to gravity

From the FBD,

B F N
18˚

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Work done by the friction force

Work done due to gravity

Work –Energy equation from A to B

SAMPLE PROBLEM 6.8

An engine expends 40 hp in moving a car along a level track at a speed of 15 m/s.
How large is the total force acting on the car in the direction opposite to the motion
of the car?

Solution:

Given: Power,
Velocity, v = 15 m/s

Let: F = Total force acting on the car in the direction opposite to the motion of the
car

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LECTURE NOTES IN ENGINEERING MECHANICS

PROBLEMS - SET 6
Instruction: Do as required. Present in writing the full details of your answer or
solutions. The grades you earn for each item will be based on correctness,
completeness and clarity of presentation.

PROBLEM 6.1
1. What is the speed of a 55 kg woman running with a kinetic energy of 1600 J?
a. 7.77 m/s c. 7.63 m/s
b. 7.73 m/s d. 7.87 m/s

PROBLEM 6.2
2. What is the change in gravitational potential energy for a 70 kg man walking up
stairs from a height of 64 m to 108 m?
a. -30215 J c. -30130 J
b. 30215 J d. 30130 J

PROBLEM 6.3
3. What is the coefficient of kinetic friction between a 16 kg box and the floor if it
takes 150 J of work to move it a distance of 3.5 m?
a. 0.283 c. 0.253
b. 0.273 d. 0.263

PROBLEM 6.4
4. What is the mass of a diver whose gravitational potential energy changes by -
160,000 J when diving into water from a height of 130 m?
a. 135.46 kg c. 145.46 kg
b. 115.46 kg d. 125.46 kg

PROBLEM 6.5
5. A 1500 kg car accelerates from 0 to 25 m/s in 8 s. What is the average power
delivered by the engine (1 hp = 746 watts)?
a. 68.5 hp c. 78.5 hp
b. 88.5 hp d. 98.5 hp

PROBLEM 6.6
Two cars are moving. The first car has thrice the mass of the second car but only 1/3
as the kinetic energy. When both cars increase their speed by 9 m/s, they then have
the same kinetic energy.
6. Calculate the original speeds of the first car.
a. 15.59 m/s2 c. 2.35 m/s2
b. 5.20 m/s2 d. 5.30 m/s2
7. Calculate the original speeds of the first car.
a. 15.59 m/s2 c. 2.35 m/s2
b. 5.20 m/s2 d. 5.30 m/s2

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PROBLEM 6.7
9. Determine the kinetic energy of the projectile of mass 25 kg at the highest point
of its trajectory, if it was launched with an initial speed of 30 m/s and at an
initial angle of 45° with respect to the horizontal?
a. 5625 J c. 5825 J
b. 5725 J d. 5525 J

PROBLEM 6.8
11. Two balls are thrown from the top of the 5 m tall building. Both are thrown
with initial speed of 20 m/s. Ball 1 is thrown horizontally, while ball 2 is thrown
straight down. What is the difference in the speeds of the two balls when they
touch the ground?
a. 3.21 m/s c. 5.21 m/s
b. 4.21 m/s d. 0

PROBLEM 6.9
12. A 90 kg refrigerator rests on the rough floor. How much work is needed to
move it at constant speed for a distance of 4 m along the floor against a friction
force of 180 N?
a. 620 J c. 360 J
b. 720 J d. 820 J

PROBLEM 6.10
13. A hammerhead of mass m = 4 kg is allowed to fall onto a nail from a height h =
0. 5 m. Determine the maximum amount of work it could do on the nail.
a. 19.62 J c. 17.62 J
b. 18.62 J d. 16.62 J

PROBLEM 6.11
14. How much work do you do if you pull with 50 N of force on a sled with a rope
that makes an angle of 20˚ to the horizontal if the sled moves 20 m?
a. 949.69 J c. 959.69 J
b. 939.69 J d. 969.69 J

PROBLEM 6.12
16. Jestoni pulls Junry whose mass is 55 kg and who is sitting on a swing with rope
of length 4 m, backward until the rope make an angle of 35° with respect to the
vertical. He then releases Junry from rest. Determine the speed of Junry at the
bottom of the swinging motion?
a. 3.67 m/s c. 3.87 m/s
b. 3.77 m/s d. 3.57 m/s

PROBLEM 6.13
17. Junry pulls his wife, whose mass is 50 kg and who is sitting on a swing with
rope of length 5 m, backward until the rope make an angle of 50° with respect
to the vertical. He then releases his wife from rest. Determine the speed of his
wife when the rope makes an angle of 20° with respect to the vertical?
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a. 5.30 m/s c. 5.60 m/s

b. 5.50 m/s d. 5.40 m/s

PROBLEM 6.14
18. A ski slides down a 25° slope for 25 m before taking off from a negligibly short
horizontal ramp. If the jumper’s take-off speed is15 m/s, what is the coefficient
of kinetic friction between skis and slope?
a. 0.872 c. 0.772
b. 0.972 d. 0.672

PROBLEM 6.15
20. A 10 grams bullet moving at a speed of 150 ft/s passes through a plank of
wood. After passing through the plank, its speed is 130 ft/s. Another bullet with
mass 12 grams, of the same size but moving at 90 ft/s, passes through an
identical plank. What will this second bullet’s speed be after passing through
the plank? Assume that the resistance offered by the plank is independent of
the speed of the bullet.
a. 58.59 ft/s2 c. 68.59 ft/s2
b. 48.59 ft/s 2
d. 78.59ft/s2

PROBLEM 6.16
21. A force is given as Fx(x) = –kx4, where the constant k = 22 N/m4. Determine the
work done to change the displacement from 0.80 m to 1.5 m?
a. 33.97 N-m c. 35.97 N-m
b. 31.97 N-m d. 37.97 N-m

PROBLEM 6.17
22. It requires 35 J of work to stretch a spring by 8 cm from its equilibrium
position. Determine the spring constant?
a. 12.94 KN/m c. 14.94 KN/m
b. 10.94 KN/m d. 16.94 KN/m

PROBLEM 6.18
23. A horse draws a sled horizontally across the field. The coefficient of friction
between the sled and the field is 0.25. The mass of the sled including the load is
250 kg. If the horse moves the sled at a constant speed of 1.75 m/s, what is the
power needed to accomplish this?
a. 1072.97 watts c. 1472.97 watts
b. 1272.97 watts d. 1672.97 watts

PROBLEM 6.19
24. The boat is being towed at a constant speed of 12.0 m/s. The tension in the
towline is 10 KN. Determine the power supplied to the boat through the
towline?
a. 120000 watts c. 160000 watts
b. 140000 watts d. 180000 watts

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PROBLEM 6.20
25. A 950 kg car accelerates from rest with a constant power of 145 hp. Neglecting
air resistance, what is the speed of the car after 5 seconds?
a. 35.74 m/s c. 37.74 m/s
b. 33.74 m/s d. 39.74 m/s

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