Salale University

Department of Physics

Physics Remedial Course Module

CHAPTER 5: WORK, ENERGY AND POWER

Learning Outcomes
After completing this chapter, students are expected to:
• Understand the concepts of work, energy, and power.
• Express these quantities in mathematical formula.
• Solve problems related to these concepts.

Introduction
This chapter introduces: Physical meanings of work done, kinetic and potential
energies, and how each of these are calculated using given quantities. Problems are
considered from different corners of real life within the context of simplified models.

5.1. The Concept of Work

Work and energy are important concepts in physics as well as in our everyday lives. Work can
be defined as any productive activity which results in something useful. But the physical
meaning of work is surprisingly different from this definition. In physics, a force does work if
its point of application moves through a distance and there is a component of the force in the
direction of the velocity of the force's point of application. For a constant force in one
dimension, the work done equals the force component in the direction of the displacement times
the displacement. (This differs somewhat from the everyday use of the term ‘work’).
Energy is closely associated with work. When work is done by one system on another, energy
is transferred between the two systems. For example, when you do work pushing a swing,
chemical energy of your body is transferred to the swing and appears as kinetic energy of
motion or as gravitational potential energy of the earth-swing system. There are many forms of
energy. Kinetic energy is associated with the motion of an object. Potential energy is associated
with the configuration of a system, such as the separation distance between two objects that
attract each other. Thermal energy is associated with the random motion of the molecules within
a system and is closely connected with the temperature of the system.

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5.1.1. Work Done by Constant Force
Consider an object that is displaced along 𝑥
axis by an amount ∆𝑥 by applying a constant
⃗ that makes an angle 𝜃 with the
force 𝑭
direction of motion, as shown in Fig. 5.1.

Figure 5.1. Work done by a constant force

Then the work done on the object by the constant force (constant in both magnitude and direction)
is defined as the product of the magnitude of the displacement times the component of the force
parallel to the displacement. That is,
𝑊 = ∆𝑥𝐹𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃, (5.1)

where 𝐹 cos 𝜃 is component of the force in the direction of the displacement, 𝑊 is work done,
and ∆𝑥 is the magnitude of the displacement. Notice that work done can be positive, negative or
zero depending on the angle 𝜃 between the force and the displacement. The work done is positive
when the force has a component in the same direction as the displacement (0° ≤ 𝜃 < 90°).
On the other hand, when the force has a component opposite to the displacement
(90° < 𝜃 ≤ 180°), the work done is negative. Work done against friction can be the best
example of negative work. When the force is perpendicular to the displacement, 𝜃 = 90° and
the work done by the force is zero.
Work is said to be done on an object by a force if (a) the force is not perpendicular to the
displacement (𝜃 ≠ 90°) , (b) the force displaces the object and (c) energy is transferred. For
instance, a person pushing a fixed wall is not doing work since there is no displacement. Moreover,
a person carrying a quintal of teff and moving horizontally is not doing work. In this case the
force applied on the quintal is vertically upward and the displacement is in the horizontal
direction.
Work is the scalar (dot) product of force and displacement.
⃗ . ∆𝒓
𝑊=𝑭 ⃗ (5.2)
The SI unit of work is Joule(J), where 1𝐽 = 1𝑁𝑚. In the cgs system, the unit of work is erg;
1𝑒𝑟𝑔 = (1𝑑𝑦𝑛)(1𝑐𝑚).
Examples: 1) An object is pulled horizontally a distance of 5𝑚 by a force of 200𝑁 that makes an
angle of 60° with the horizontal. Calculate the work done.

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Solution: 𝑠 = 5𝑚; 𝐹 = 200𝑁; 𝜃 = 60°; 𝑊 =?
𝑊 = 𝐹𝑠 cos 𝜃 = (200𝑁 ∗ 5𝑚 ∗ cos 60°) = 500𝐽

2) A constant force 𝐹 = (6𝑖̂ + 4𝑗̂)𝑁 acts on an object displacing it by an amount ∆𝑟̂ = (2𝑖̂ + 𝑗̂)𝑚.
Calculate the work done on the object.
⃗ . ∆𝒓
𝑊=𝑭 ⃗ = (6𝑖̂ + 4𝑗̂)𝑁. (2𝑖̂ + 𝑗̂)𝑚 = 16𝐽
5.1.2. Work Done by Variable Force

A force which varies in magnitude or direction during the displacement of the body on which it
acts can do work.
Example: Stretching a spring- the force exerted by a
spring, which increases with the amount of stretch.
Hook’s law: 𝐹𝑟 ∝ 𝑥 ⇒ 𝐹𝑟 = −𝑘𝑥, where 𝐹𝑟 is the restoring
force; 𝑥 is displacement from equilibrium and 𝑘 is the spring
constant.
The force exerted by the spring (𝐹𝑟 )is always directed
opposite to the displacement from equilibrium. The work
done by restoring force in displacing a block attached to the
spring is
𝑥 𝑥 1
𝑊 = ∫𝑥 2|𝑘𝑥|𝑑𝑥 = ∫0 |𝑘𝑥|𝑑𝑥 = 2 𝑘𝑥 2
1

This is known as spring-tension work done (elastic potential energy).

Example: A 50𝑁 force applied to a spring (𝑘 = 103 𝑁/𝑚) stretches by 10𝑐𝑚. Compute the work
done by the applied force.
Solution: 𝑘 = 103 𝑁/𝑚; 𝑥 = 10𝑐𝑚 = 0.1𝑚; 𝑊𝑎𝑝= ?

𝑊 = 1/2𝑘𝑥 2 = 1/2 ∗ 103 𝑁/𝑚 ∗ 0.1𝑚 = 50𝐽

N.B: work done by applied force is positive; whereas the work done by restoring force is negative.
The work done by a variable force 𝐹(𝑥) through a displacement from 𝑥1 𝑡𝑜 𝑥2 is
𝑥
𝑊 = ∫𝑥 2|𝐹(𝑥)|𝑑𝑥 (5.3)
1

𝒙
Example: A force, 𝐹 = (9 − 𝟐) 𝑁, moves a particle through a displacement of 10𝑚 along a
smooth horizontal surface. Find the work done.
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𝑥 10 𝒙 𝑥2
Solution: 𝑊 = ∫𝑥 2|𝐹(𝑥)|𝑑𝑥 = ∫0 |(9 − 𝟐)| 𝑑𝑥 = |9𝑥 − | = 65𝐽
1 4

In most cases, the work done by a variable force can be calculated as the area enclosed by force
curve and displacement axis.
Activity: If force (𝐹) is in Newton and displacement (𝑥) is in meters, calculate the work done by
the variable force 𝐹(𝑥) = √4 − 𝑥 2 .
5.2. Work Energy Theorem

The total work done on a body by external forces is related to the body's displacement-that is, to
changes in its position. But the total work is also related to changes in the speed of the body.
Consider a particle with mass 𝑚 moving along the x-axis under the action of a constant net force
with magnitude 𝐹 directed along the positive x-axis (Fig. 5.3). Suppose the speed changes from
𝑣1 to 𝑣2 while the particle undergoes a displacement 𝑠 = 𝑥1 − 𝑥2 from point 𝑥1 to 𝑥2 .

Fig.5.3: A net force ⃗𝑭 acting on a mass 𝒎

This constant net force on the object is given by Newton’s second law as

𝐹 = 𝑚𝑎 (5.4)
Now since the force is constant, the acceleration will also remain constant and thus
can be written as
𝑣2 2 −𝑣1 2
𝑎= (5.5)
2𝑠

Upon combining Eqs. (5.4) and (5.5), the net force is expressible as

𝑣2 2 −𝑣1 2
𝐹 = 𝑚( ) (5.6)
2𝑠
Or

𝑚𝑣2 2 𝑚𝑣1 2
𝐹𝑠 = − (5.7)
2 2
The product 𝐹𝑠 is the work done by the net force and the quantity

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1
𝐾𝐸 = 2 𝑚𝑣 2 (5.8)
𝑚𝑣2 2
is called kinetic energy of a mass 𝑚 moving with speed 𝑣.Thus, is the final
2
𝑚𝑣1 2
kinetic energy of t he mass and is its initial kinetic energy. We therefore observe
2
that Eq. (5.7) relates the work done on an object by a net force to the change in its
kinetic energy.
Then work-energy theorem can then be stated as:
“The work done by a net force on an object is equal to the change in its kinetic energy.”
𝑊𝑛𝑒𝑡 = ∆𝐾𝐸 = 𝐾𝐸𝑓 − 𝐾𝐸𝑖 (5.9)
𝑚𝑣2 2 𝑚𝑣1 2
Where 𝐾𝐸𝑓 = is the final kinetic energy of the particle and 𝐾𝐸𝑖 = is its initial kinetic
2 2
energy.
The work–kinetic energy theorem indicates that the speed of an object increases if the net work
done on it is positive because the final kinetic energy is greater than the initial kinetic energy.
The speed decreases if the network is negative because the final kinetic energy is less than the
initial kinetic energy. On the other hand, no work is done by the net force in moving an object
with a constant speed.
Example: A 6𝑘𝑔 block initially at rest is pulled to the right along a smooth horizontal surface
by a constant force of 18𝑁. Find the final speed of the block after it has moved a distance of
6𝑚.
Solution: 𝑚 = 6𝑘𝑔; 𝑣0 = 0; 𝜇 = 0; 𝐹𝑛𝑒𝑡 = 18𝑁; 𝑠 = 6𝑚; 𝑣𝑓 =?

𝑊𝑛𝑒𝑡 = ∆𝐾𝐸 = 𝐹𝑛𝑒𝑡 𝑠 = 1/2𝑚𝑣𝑓 2 ⇒ 𝑣𝑓 = 6𝑚/𝑠

Activity: The work expanded to accelerate a car from rest to 30𝑚/𝑠 is ____________ that
required to accelerate it from 30𝑚/𝑠 to 60𝑚/𝑠.

A) more than B) less than C) equal to D) A or B depending on the mass

Elastic Potential Energy

When a spring is stretched (or compressed) from its equilibrium position, it has ability to do
work as it returns to the equilibrium position. Thus, the spring may have the potential for
doing work because of its stretch (or compression). Energy that is stored in an elastic object
when you stretch, compress, twist, or otherwise deform it is called elastic potential energy.
Consider an object of mass m attached to a spring of spring constant k, as shown in Fig.5.4

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Fig. 5.4: The forces acting on the mass

attached to the spring are spring force
𝐹𝑠𝑝𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 and external force Fext .

For a force that is a linear function of position,

such as spring force (𝐹𝑠𝑝 = −𝑘𝑥), the work done
by the force is the average force multiplied by the
displacement. Accordingly, the work done by
spring force when the spring is stretched from
𝑥𝑖 𝑡𝑜 𝑥𝑓 is the product of the average spring force
and the displacement. That is,
1
𝑊𝑠𝑝 = − 2 (𝑥2 − 𝑥1 )2 (5.10)

▪ Elastic potential energy is the energy

possessed by a system due to its shape.
1
The quantity 𝑈𝑒 = 2 𝑘𝑥 2 is elastic potential energy
of spring mass system when the spring is stretched
or compressed by 𝑥 units. We thus notice that
1 1
𝑈𝑒𝑓 = 2 𝑘𝑥𝑓 2 is the final elastic potential energy and 𝑈𝑒𝑖 = 2 𝑘𝑥𝑖 2 is the initial potential energy.
Accordingly, we observe from eq. (5.10) that the work done by spring force when the spring is
stretched from 𝑥𝑖 𝑡𝑜 𝑥𝑓 is equal to the negative of the change in elastic potential energy. That is,

𝑊𝑠𝑝 = −(𝑈𝑒𝑓 − 𝑈𝑒𝑖 ) = −∆𝑈𝑒 (5.11)

Gravitational Potential Energy

In this section we will discuss another form of mechanical energy, called potential energy,
associated with the position or configuration of object. Thus, the
potential energy of a system of interacting objects represents the
ability of the system to do work because of its position or
configuration.
To define gravitational potential energy, we consider a physics
book of mass 𝑚 lifted from an initial height 𝑦𝑖 to a final height
𝑦𝑓 above the surface of the earth, as indicated in Fig. .5.5

Fig. 5.5: Relating potential energy to work done by a force

The work done by gravitational force as the book is raised from

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the initial height 𝑦𝑖 to a final height 𝑦𝑓 from the ground is given by

𝑊𝑔 = |F ⃗ g||∆r⃗| cos θ (5.12)

Where 𝐹⃗𝑔 = −𝑚𝑔𝑗̂ is the gravitational force on the book and ∆𝑟 = (𝑦𝑓 − 𝑦𝑖 )𝑗̂ is the displacement
and 𝜃 is the angle between the gravitational force and the displacement. In Figure 5.5,
𝜃 = 180°. It then follows that

𝑊𝑔 = −(𝑚𝑔𝑦𝑓 − 𝑚𝑔𝑦𝑖 ) (5.13)

The quantity 𝑈𝑔 = 𝑚𝑔𝑦 is called gravitational potential energy. Thus 𝑈𝑔𝑓 = 𝑚𝑔𝑦𝑓 is the final
gravitational potential energy and 𝑈𝑔𝑖 = 𝑚𝑔𝑦𝑖 is the initial gravitational potential energy of
the earth-book system. Accordingly, the work done by gravitational force can be expressed as

𝑊𝑔 = −[𝑈𝑔𝑓 − 𝑈𝑔𝑖 ] = −∆𝑈𝑔 (5.14)

We observe that work done by gravitational force is equal to the negative of the change in
gravitational potential energy. When the object moves down, 𝑦 decreases, the gravitational
force does positive work, and the potential energy decreases. When the object moves up, the
work done by the gravitational force is negative, and the potential energy increases.
Example:1) A force 𝑭 = (4𝑖̂ + 3𝑗̂)𝑁 acts on an object of mass 𝑚 = 2𝑘𝑔, moving the
object by dragging it from origin to 𝑥 = 5𝑚. Find the work done on the object and the angle
𝜃 between the force and the displacement.
Solution: The displacement is in the positive x-direction, so only the component of the force in
the displacement direction does work. Therefore,

𝑊 = 𝐹 . ∆𝑟 = (4𝑖̂ + 3𝑗̂)𝑁. (5𝑖̂ )𝑚 = 20𝐽

Using 𝑊 = 𝐹𝑑 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜃,
𝑊 20𝐽
𝜃 = cos −1 ( ) = cos −1 ( ) = 37°
𝐹𝑑 25𝑁𝑚
2) If in the above problem, the contact surface on which the object is dragged is rough with
coefficient of friction 𝜇𝑘 = 0.2, What is the value of the total work done?
Solution
The friction force acts in opposite direction to the displacement and is given as
𝐹𝑓 = 𝜇𝐹𝑁 = 𝜇𝑚𝑔,

𝑊𝑛𝑒𝑡 = 𝑊 − 𝑊𝑓 = 20𝐽 − [(0.2 ∗ 2𝑘𝑔 ∗ 9.8𝑚/𝑠 2 ) ∗ 5𝑚] = 20𝐽 − 19.6𝐽 = 0.4𝐽

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5.3. Conservation of (Mechanical) Energy

In general terms, energy is neither created nor destroyed. This means there is conservation of
energy within a universe. However, since energy exists in various forms and it can transform
from one form to another, conservation of energy may also be regarded to mean conservation
of magnitude of a given form energy.
The law of conservation of mechanical energy states that in the absence of dissipative force such as
friction, mechanical energy of an isolated system remains constant or conserved.
That is;
∆𝑀𝐸 = 0
Or 𝑀𝐸𝑓 = 𝑀𝐸𝑖 (5.15)

𝐾𝐸𝑓 + 𝑈𝑓 = 𝐾𝐸𝑖 + 𝑈𝑖 (5.16)

On the other hand, in the presence of friction, the change in mechanical energy is equal to the
work done by friction. That is;
∆𝑀𝐸 = 𝑊𝑓 (5.17)

Where 𝑊𝑓 = −𝐹𝑓 𝑆 = −(𝜇𝐹𝑁 )𝑆 is the work done by friction, in which 𝜇 is the coefficient of
friction and 𝐹𝑁 is the normal force. When a particle is under an only gravitational force field,
the potential energy is all gravitational potential, 𝑈 = 𝑈𝑔 and when the particle is under the
action of an only elastic restoring force field, 𝑈 = 𝑈𝑒𝑙𝑎 . For a particle under the action of
both gravitational and elastic forces, 𝑈 = 𝑈𝑔 + 𝑈𝑒𝑙𝑎 .

Example: A 2𝑘𝑔 block is projected with an initial speed of 12𝑚/𝑠 up a plane inclined at an
angle of 37° above the horizontal. If the coefficient of friction b/n the block and incline is
0.25, how far up the plane does the block travel before coming to rest? [g=10m/s2]
Solution: ∆𝑀𝐸 = 𝑊𝑓 ⇒ 𝑊𝑓 = ∆𝐾𝐸 + ∆𝑃𝐸 = 𝐾𝐸𝑓 − 𝐾𝐸𝑖 + 𝑃𝐸𝑓 − 𝑃𝐸𝑖

But 𝐾𝐸𝑓 = 𝑃𝐸𝑖 = 0; why?

⇒ 𝑊𝑓 = 𝑃𝐸𝑓 − 𝐾𝐸𝑖 = −𝐹𝑓 𝑆 = 𝑚𝑔ℎ − 1/2𝑚𝑣𝑖 2

⇒ −𝜇𝐹𝑁 𝑆 = 𝑚𝑔ℎ − 1/2𝑚𝑣𝑖 2

⇒ −𝝁𝑚𝑔 cos 37° 𝑆 = 𝑚𝑔(sin 37°(𝑆)) − 1/2𝑚𝑣𝑖 2
⇒ −2𝑆 = 6𝑆 − 72
⇒ −2𝑆 − 6𝑆 = −72
⇒ −8𝑆 = −72

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−72
⇒𝑆= = 9𝑚
−8
Solving for the distance (𝑆), 𝑆 = 9𝑚.
5.4. Conservative Forces

We will find it important to categorize forces into two types: conservative and nonconservative.
By definition, we call any force a conservative force if the work done by the force on an object
moving from one point to another depends only on the initial and final positions of the object, and
is independent of the particular path taken.
A conservative force can be a function only of position, and cannot depend on other variables like
time or velocity.
We can readily show that the force of gravity is a conservative force.
The gravitational force on an object of mass 𝑚 near the Earth’s surface
is 𝐹 = 𝑚𝑔, where 𝑔 is a constant. The work done by this gravitational
force on an object that falls a vertical distance ℎ is 𝑊𝑔 = 𝐹𝑔 ℎ = 𝑚𝑔ℎ
(𝑆𝑒𝑒 𝐹𝑖𝑔. 5.6(𝑎).

Fig. 5.6(a:) Object of mass m, falls a height 𝒉 vertically

Now suppose that instead of moving vertically downward or upward, an object follows
some arbitrary path in the 𝑥𝑦 −plane, as shown in Fig.5.6(𝑏).

Fig.5.6(b): Object of mass m is raised along

an arbitrary two-dimensional path

The object starts at a vertical height 𝑦1 and reaches a

height 𝑦2 , where 𝑦2 − 𝑦1 = ℎ. The work done by
gravity is then,
2
⃗ 𝑔 . 𝑑𝒍
𝑊𝑔 = ∫ 𝑭
1
2

𝑊𝑔 = ∫ 𝑚𝑔 cos 𝜃𝑑𝑙
1

Let 𝜙 = 180° − 𝜃 be the angle b/n 𝑑𝒍 and its vertical component 𝑑𝑦, as indicated in
Fig.5.6(𝑏).Then, since cos 𝜃 = − cos 𝜙 and 𝑑𝑦 = 𝑑𝑙 cos 𝜙; we have

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𝑦2

𝑊𝑔 = − ∫ 𝑚𝑔𝑑𝑦
𝑦1

𝑊𝑔 = −𝑚𝑔(𝑦2 − 𝑦1 ) (5.18)

Since (𝑦2 − 𝑦1 ) is the vertical height ℎ , we see that the work done depends only on the vertical
height and does not depend on the particular path taken! Hence, by definition, gravity is a
conservative force.
Note that for the case shown in Fig.5.6(𝑏), 𝑦2 > 𝑦1 and therefore the work done by gravity is
negative. If on the other hand 𝑦2 < 𝑦1, so that the object is falling, then 𝑊𝑔 is positive.

Another equivalent definition of conservative force is that a force is conservative if the net work
done by the force on an object moving around any closed path is zero.
The second definition of a conservative force illuminates an important aspect of such a force: the
work done by a conservative force is recoverable in the sense that if positive work is done by an
object (on something else) on one part of a closed path, an equivalent amount of negative work
will be done by the object on its return.
Other examples of conservative forces are electrical force, magnetic force and the force due to a
spring (elastic force).
If the work done by a force depends on the path taken, then the force is necessarily
nonconservative (dissipative) force. E.g., Friction
Example:1) An object is moved from a location where the potential energy is 100𝐽 to a location
where the potential energy is 200𝐽. Calculate the work done by the conservative force associated
with the potential energy.
Solution: 𝑈𝑖 = 100𝐽; 𝑈𝑓 = 200𝐽; 𝑊𝑐 ?

𝑊𝑐 = −∆𝑈 = −(𝑈𝑓 − 𝑈𝑖 ) = −(200𝐽 − 100𝐽) = −100𝐽

Note: Work is negative because the object is moved against potential gradient.
2) Who has done more work in raising an object to a height ℎ if Abebe lifts it vertically up but
Belay used a frictionless inclined plane of length 𝑙 ?
Solution: In the absence of dissipative force (friction), work done is independent of the path
taken. So, both performs equal work!!
5.5. Power

Time considerations are not involved directly in the definition of work. If you lift a barbell
weighing 400 𝑁 through a vertical distance of 0.5 𝑚 at constant velocity, you do 200 𝐽 of work
on it, whether it takes you 1 second, 1 hour, or 1 year to do it. Often, though, we need to know

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how quickly work is done. The time rate at which work is done or energy is transferred is called
𝑝𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟. Like work and energy, power is a scalar quantity. We define average power as follows:
When a quantity of work ∆𝑊 is done during a time interval ∆𝑡, the average power 𝑃𝑎𝑣𝑒 , or work
per unit time, is defined as
∆𝑊
𝑃𝑎𝑣𝑒 = (5.19)
∆𝑡

The SI unit of power is watts (𝑊), where 1𝑊 = 1𝐽/𝑠. For many applications, power is
measured in kilowatts (1𝑘𝑊 = 103 𝑊) or megawatts (1 𝑀𝑊 = 106 𝑊). Power units can be
used to define new units of work or energy. The kilowatt-hour (𝑘𝑊ℎ) is the usual commercial
unit of electrical energy. One kilowatt-hour is the total work done in 1 ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑟 (3600 𝑠) when the
power is 1 𝑘𝑖𝑙𝑜𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑡 (103 𝐽/𝑠). So,
1𝑘𝑊ℎ = (103 𝐽/𝑠) (3600 𝑠) = 3.6 𝑀𝐽.
The kilowatt-hour is a unit of work or energy, not power. Other unit of power (non-SI unit) is
horsepower, where 1ℎ𝑝 = 746𝑊.
In the limit of ∆𝑡 → 0 , the average power becomes instantaneous power. Suppose a force 𝐹
parallel to the displacement is applied on an object. The work done on the object by this force
when the object is displaced by ∆𝑠 is ∆𝑊 = 𝐹(∆𝑠) and the average power is expressible as
∆𝑊 ∆𝑆
𝑃𝑎𝑣𝑒 = = 𝐹 ( ) = 𝐹𝑉𝑎𝑣𝑒
∆𝑡 ∆𝑡
The instantaneous power is the limit of 𝑃𝑎𝑣𝑒 as the time interval ∆𝑡 approaches zero. It then
follows that
𝑃(𝑡) = 𝐹𝑣(𝑡) (5.20)
where 𝑣 is the instantaneous speed.
Example:1) How much power is required to construct vertically 6 boxes in 2 minutes if each
has a mass of 100𝑘𝑔 and 30𝑐𝑚 thickness? [Take g=10m/s2]
𝑤 𝑚𝑔 𝑚𝑔
Solution: 𝑃 = = [∑6𝑖=1 ℎ𝑖 ] = [ℎ1 + ℎ2 + ℎ3 + ℎ4 + ℎ5 + ℎ6 ]
𝑡 𝑡 𝑡

100𝑘𝑔 ∗ 10𝑚/𝑠 2
⇒𝑃= [0 + 0.3𝑚 + 0.6𝑚 + 0.9𝑚 + 1.2𝑚 + 1.5𝑚] = 37.5𝑊
(2 ∗ 60𝑠)
2) What power is developed in a runner at a race if he has a mass of 70𝑘𝑔 and reached a
speed of 9𝑚/𝑠 in 2𝑠?
𝑊 𝐾𝐸 1/2𝑚𝑣 2 1/2∗70𝑘𝑔∗9𝑚/𝑠∗9𝑚/𝑠
Solution: 𝑃 = = = = = 1417.5W
𝑡 𝑡 𝑡 2𝑠𝑒𝑐

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Chapter Summary
⃗ during displacement 𝑠⃗ is 𝑊 = 𝐹𝑆𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 (work
The work done on a particle by a constant force 𝐹
done by a constant force), in which 𝜃 is the angle between the directions of 𝐹⃗⃗ and 𝑠⃗. Only the
component of ⃗𝐹
⃗⃗⃗ that is along the displacement can do work on the object.

Work done can be positive, negative or zero depending on the angle θ between the force and
the displacement. The work done is positive when the force has a component in the same
direction as the displacement (0° ≤ 𝜃 < 90°). When the force has a component opposite to
the displacement (90° < 𝜃 ≤ 180°), the work done is negative. When the force is
perpendicular to the displacement ( 𝜃 = 90°), the work done by the force is zero.
Work is said to be done on an object by a force if (a) the force is not perpendicular to the
displacement (𝜃 ≠ 90°); and (b) the force displaces the object.
Work-energy theorem: For a particle, the net work done on the particle is equal to the
change in kinetic energy imparted to it.⇒ 𝑊𝑛𝑒𝑡 = ∆𝐾𝐸
Work done by a spring force: If an object is attached to the spring's free end, the work 𝑊𝑠𝑝
done on t he object by the spring force when the object is moved from an initial position 𝑥𝑖 to a
final position 𝑥𝑓 is 𝑊𝑠𝑝 = −[1/2𝑘𝑥𝑓 2 − 1/2𝑘𝑥𝑖 2 ].

Elastic potential energy of a spring stretched or compressed by an amount 𝑥 is

𝑈𝑒𝑙𝑎 = 1/2𝑘𝑥 2
Gravitational potential energy of a mass 𝑚 at a height ℎ from the surface of the earth is
𝑈𝑔 = 𝑚𝑔ℎ

Work done by gravitational force is equal to the negative of the change in gravitational potential
energy. That is, 𝑊𝑔 = −[𝑚𝑔𝑦𝑓 − 𝑚𝑔𝑦𝑖 ] = −∆𝑈𝑔

The law of conservation of mechanical energy states that “In the absence of dissipative forces
such as friction, the total mechanical energy (kinetic plus potential) of an isolated system
remains constant”; that is,
𝐾𝐸𝑓 + 𝑈𝑓 = 𝐾𝐸𝑖 + 𝑈𝑖 ,

where 𝑈 may include both gravitational and elastic potential energies.

When friction forces exist, the change in mechanical energy of a system is equal to the work done
by the frictional force. That is,
∆𝑀𝐸 = 𝑊𝑓 ⇒ ∆𝐾𝐸 + ∆𝑈 = 𝑊𝑓 ,

Power is the rate of doing work or the rate of energy transfer.

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Department of Physics

Physics Remedial Course Module

Conceptual Questions
1. The SI unit of work is Joule. Why do you think is the same unit (Joule) used for energy?
2. Cite two examples in which a force is exerted on an object without doing any work on the
object.
3. State a condition in which work done on an object is still zero even though a non-
perpendicular force 𝐹 acts on it and produces non-zero displacement in the direction of the
applied force.
4. Why is it tiring to push hard against a solid wall even though no work is done?
5. (a) Where does the kinetic energy come from when a car accelerates uniformly starting
from rest? (b) How is the increase in kinetic energy related to the friction force the road
exerts on the tires?
6. Can the total mechanical energy 𝐾𝐸 + 𝑈 ever be negative? Explain.
Problems
1. A car starts from rest and travels forward with constant acceleration. Which of the
following is correct?
A) The power developed is constant
B) The power developed increases through time
C) The kinetic energy of the car is proportional to time
D) B and C
2. If a force 𝐹 = (2𝑥 + 3𝑥 2 )𝑖̂ 𝑁 acts on an object, what is the work done by this force
for a displacement from 𝑥 = 2 to 𝑥= 5 meters?
3. A spring of spring constant 2000𝑁/𝑚 was put vertically in a long cylinder. If a
mass of 4𝑘𝑔 that was 1𝑚 above the top of the spring was released, the maximum
compression of the spring will be---------------
4. A 15𝑘𝑔 block is pulled along a horizontal by a 50𝑁 force that makes an angle of
37° with the surface. If the coefficient of friction b/n the block and the surface is
0.1, what is the net work done on the block as it moves a distance of 20𝑚?
5. A 0.6𝑘𝑔 particle has a speed of 2𝑚/𝑠 at point ‘A’ and kinetic energy of 7.5𝐽 at
point ‘B’. What is (a) its kinetic energy at ‘A’? (b) its speed at ‘B’? (c) the
total work done on the particle as it moves from ‘A’ to ‘B’?
6. A single constant force, 𝐹 acts on a particle of mass 𝑚. The particle starts from rest at
𝑡 = 0. a) Show that the instantaneous power delivered by the force at any time 𝑡 is
𝐹2
given by 𝑃 = 𝑡.
𝑚
b) If 𝐹 = 20𝑁 and 𝑚 = 5𝑘𝑔, what is the power delivered at 𝑡 = 3𝑠?

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7. In the figure shown, if the mass of the ball is 1𝑘𝑔 and the surface is smooth, what
is its speed at point ‘C’?

8. A spring of force constant 160𝑁/𝑚, fixed at one end, lies on a frictionless

horizontal table. If a 2𝑘𝑔 block moving with a speed of 12𝑚/𝑠 strikes the spring,
what will be the speed of the block at the instant the spring is compressed by 1𝑚?
9. A compressed spring whose spring constant is 103 𝑁/𝑚 acts on a body attached
to it with a force of 400𝑁. Determine the work done by the external force for
its compression.
10. The force-distance graph of a certain net force acting on a 15𝑘𝑔 object in the
direction of the displacement is shown below:

a) What is the work done by the force in 6𝑚 of the displacement?

b) Determine the velocity of the 15𝑘𝑔 object at the end of 6𝑚.
11. A load whose mass is 3000𝑘𝑔 is lifted by a winch with an acceleration of
4𝑚/𝑠 2 . Calculate the work done during the first two seconds. [𝑔 = 10𝑚/𝑠 2 ]
12. The coefficient of friction between a 20𝑘𝑔 box and the floor is 0.4. A pulling
force directed 37° above the horizontal pulls the box 13𝑚 across the floor at
constant speed. Calculate the work done by the force.

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Department of Physics

Physics Remedial Course Module

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Department of Physics

Physics Remedial Course Module

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