 LAW OF CONSERVATION OF ENERGY

 STATEMENT: According to this law, “energy can neither be created nor be destroyed, but
can be changed from one form to another form”

OR

When one form of energy is changed or transformed into other forms of energy, the total
energy of an isolated system remains the same i.e., the total energy before transformation =
the sum of the different energies transformed.

 THE LAW OF CONSERVATION OF ENERGY OF A FREELY FALLING BODY:

Case 1) Consider a body of mass m at a height h above the ground. Suppose this position of the body
is A. Suppose the body at A is at rest i.e. v = 0.

At position A:

Potential energy of the body, P.E. = mgh

Kinetic energy of the body, K.E. = 0

Therefore, total energy of the body at A = P.E. + K.E.

= mgh + 0 = mgh ____________(1)

Case 2) Let the body falls freely under the action of gravity to position B through a height x. Now, the
height of the body from the ground = (h-x)

At position B:

Potential energy of the body, P.E. = mg(h-x) ______________ (2)

Kinetic energy of the body, K.E. = ½ m v2 __________________ (3)

Where, v is the velocity of the body at position B.

Calculation of v
 v2 – u2 = 2aS _________________ (4)

Here, u = 0 [ Because body at A is at rest]

a = g and S = x

Therefore, from equation (4),

v2 – 0 = 2gx or v2 = 2gx

put this value in equation (3), we get

Kinetic energy of the body, K.E. = ½ m x (2gx) = mgx

Therefore, Total energy of the body at B = P.E. + K.E.

= mg (h-x) + mgx

= mgh – mgx + mgx

= mgh ________________(5)

Case 3) Finally, let the body touches the ground at C, so that the distance through which it falls = h

At Position C:

Potential energy of body, P.E. = mg(0) = 0

Kinetic energy of the body, K.E. = ½ mv2 _____________ (6)

Where, v is the velocity of the body just at position C.

Calculation of v

v2 – u2 = 2aS __________________ (7)

Here, u = 0 (because body is at rest at position A)

a = g and S = h

therefore, from equation (7), v2 – 0 = 2gh

v2 = 2gh

Put this value in equation(6), we get

Kinetic energy of the body at C, K.E. = ½ mx(gh) = mgh

Therefore, Total energy of the body at C = P.E. + K.E.

= 0 + mgh = mgh __________________ (8)

From Equations (1), (5) and (8), it can be concluded that the total energy of a body at any instant
during free fall of the body remains constant. Hence, the law of conservation of energy is verified.
 (NOTE)(a) The sum of the potential energy and kinetic energy of the object would be the same at
all points. That is,

potential energy + kinetic energy = constant

OR

mgh + ½ mv2 = constant

The sum of kinetic energy and potential energy of an object is its total mechanical energy.

(b) Reasoning: During the free fall of the object, the decrease in potential energy, at any point in its
path, appears as an equal amount of increase in kinetic energy. (Here the effect of air resistance on
the motion of the object has been ignored.) There is thus a continual transformation of gravitational
potential energy into kinetic energy.

 RATE OF DOING WORK (POWER)

1) Definition: Power is defined as the rate of doing work or the rate of transfer of energy.
2) Significance: Power measures the speed of work done, that is, how fast or slow work is
done.
3) Mathematically:
Power = Work done = W
Time Taken t
4) Unit: unit of power is watt [in honour of James Watt (1736 – 1819)] having the symbol W.
5) Definition of 1 watt: 1 watt is the power of an agent, which does work at the rate of 1 joule
per second.
OR
Power is 1 W when the rate of consumption of energy is 1 J s–1.

1watt = 1 joule/second = 1J/1s

1 W = 1 J s–1.

6) Larger rates of energy transfer in kilowatts (kW).

1 kilowatt = 1000 watts
1 kW = 1000 W
1 kW = 1000 J s–1.
(NOTE) The power of an agent may vary with time. This means that the agent may be doing
work at different rates at different intervals of time. Therefore the concept of average
power is useful.
7) Average power: Average power of an agent is defined as the ratio of total work done or
energy to the total time taken
P = Total work done
Total time
Since, Total work done = Energy supplied
Therefore, P = Energy supplied
Total time
 PRACTICAL UNIT OF POWER:
The power of machines (like engine of a scooter or a car or a bus) is expressed in horse
power (h.p.). So, the practical unit of power is horse power (h.p.).
1 horse power (h.p.) = 746 W
 POWER IN TERMS OF FORCE (F) AND VELOCITY (v)
P = W/t
But W = F x S
Therefore, P = (F x S)/ t = F x (S/t)
But (S/t) = v
Therefore, P = F x v
Thus, power of an agent is also defined as the product of force applied and the velocity of
the body.
(NOTE) 1 kW = 1000 W = 1000 Js-1
 COMERCIAL UNIT OF ENERGY
1 unit = 1 kWh
 STATEMENT: A kilowatt – hour is the amount of electric energy used by 1000 watt electric
appliance (say a heater) when it operates for one hour.
OR
A machine that uses 1000 J of energy every second, if this machine is used continuously for
one hour, it will consume 1 kW h of energy. Thus, 1 kW h is the energy used in one hour at
the rate of 1000 J s–1 (or 1 kW).
(NOTE) kWh is also known as “Board of Trade Unit” (B.O.T.)
 RELATION BETWEEN kWh and JOULE
1 kWh = 1000 Wh ( because 1kW = 1000W)
Now, 1 W = 1 Js-1 and 1 h = 60 x 60 s = 3600s
Therefore, 1 kW h = 1000 Js-1 × 3600 s
= 1000 W × 3600 s
= 3600000 J
1 kW h = 3.6 × 106 J.
 IMPORTANCE: The energy used in households, industries and commercial establishments
are usually expressed in kilowatt hour. For example, electrical energy used during a month is
expressed in terms of ‘units’. Here, 1 ‘unit’ means 1 kilowatt hour.
 BIGGER UNITS OF POWER: