Work and Energy

(PART 2)

1
Outline
▪ Work
▪ Power
▪ Energy
▪ Kinetic Energy
▪ Potential Energy (Gravitational Potential Energy and Spring/Elastic Potential Energy)

▪ Conservative and Nonconservative Forces

▪ Law of Conservation of Energy

2
HERE I
COME!
Kinetic Energy
An object with kinetic energy (energy of motion) can do work on
another object just like a moving hammer can drive a nail into a wooden
board.

A brick on a high shelf can do work on a nail:

it can fall off the shelf → accelerate downwards → hit a nail on the
wooden board

An object (like the brick) from its location can “potentially” do work.

Potential Energy
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed
under CC BY-SA

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 6.3 Energy
Potential Energy
▪ Potential energy is so named because this stored energy or work
has the potential to change the state of other objects.
▪ It is the work done by a force (such as gravitational force or spring
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA
force) when the relative positions of particles are changed within a
physical system.
▪ It is the work done when an object is moved from one point to
another.
▪ Loosely, one can think of potential energy:
◦ as the energy stored in an object as a result of the work done to
bring it to that position from a reference point.
◦ BUT…It is a property of a system, rather than of a single object.
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA
It is due to the relative positions of interacting objects in the
system.

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6.3 Energy
Potential Energy
Symbol: U or PE
Types
1. Gravitational Potential Energy, 𝑈𝐺
2. Elastic Potential Energy, 𝑈𝐸

Potential Energy Reference

▪ The potential energy reference is a location where the potential energy is made to vanish (made to a
value equal to zero)
▪ The potential reference serves as a benchmark to which all potential energy measurements are carried
out.
▪ Where is the potential reference placed:
◦ Depends on the problem but it usually placed in the most convenient place to carry out all calculations!

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Gravitational Potential Energy
the energy associated with the position of the object

𝑃𝐸 = 𝑚𝑔ℎ
where,

𝑃𝐸 = gravitational potential energy

𝑚 = mass of an object/particle
ℎ = position/height of an object/particle
Gravitational potential energy
- Measuring h needs reference height

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Gravitational Potential Energy
Work done by the GRAVITY

𝑊𝑔 = 𝐹∆𝑦 = 𝑤∆𝑦
𝑊𝑔 = 𝑚𝑔∆𝑦
𝑊𝑔 = 𝑚𝑔 𝑦𝑖 − 𝑦𝑓
𝑊𝑔 = 𝑚𝑔𝑦𝑖 − 𝑚𝑔𝑦𝑓
𝑊𝑔 = 𝑃𝐸𝑖 − 𝑃𝐸𝑓
𝑊𝑔 = − 𝑃𝐸𝑓 − 𝑃𝐸𝑖
𝑊𝑔 = −∆𝑷𝑬
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6.3 Energy
Potential Energy
Example 11
Relative to the ground, what is the gravitational potential energy of a 12-kg ball at the top of a
150-m tall building?

Answer: 17 640 𝐽 ≈ 1.8 × 104 J 𝑜𝑟 18 kJ

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6.3 Energy
Potential Energy
Example 12
At what height above the ground should a 4.00 kg bag of rice be placed to have a potential
energy of 196 J?

Answer: 5.00 m

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6.3 Energy
Potential Energy
Example 13
You lift a 2.0-kilogram basketball from the floor, where its gravitational energy is zero. You raise
it 2.4 meters, carry it horizontally to a window, and drop it out. It falls 12.0 meters. What is the
gravitational potential energy when it hits the ground relative to the floor?

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 To solve for the gravitational potential energy,
we use

2.4 m 𝑃𝐸 = 𝑚𝑔ℎ
𝑚 = 2.0 kg
Reference position, 𝑦 = 0 m
𝑃𝐸 = 0 𝑃𝐸 = − 2.0 kg 9.8 12 m − 2.4 m
12.0 m s2
( ℎ must be measured from the reference)
(The potential is NEGATIVE since the object is
below the reference position.)

What is the gravitational ∴ 𝑃𝐸 = −188.16 𝐽

potential energy when it hits
the ground relative to the
floor?

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Consider an object attached to a spring. Assume that this
object moves in a frictionless horizontal surface.

spring object of
mass, m
(equilibrium)
position)

(displaced a distance, x)

If the spring is stretched or compressed a small distance, x

from its unstretched length or equilibrium position and
then released, it exerts a force, Fs on the object.

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 When x is positive (the spring is
stretched), the spring force is to the
left.

When x is zero (the spring is

unstretched), the spring force is zero.

When x is negative (the spring is

compressed), the spring force is to
the right.

The force exerted by spring on an object varies with the

displacement of the object from equilibrium position x = 0.

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6.3 Energy
Spring/Elastic Potential Energy
HOOKE’S LAW
The force exerted by the spring, Fs,
is proportional to the displacement,
x.
𝐹𝑠 = −𝑘𝑥
where,
𝑥 = displacement of the object
from its equilibrium position (𝑥 = 0)
𝑘 = spring constant = [𝑁/𝑚]
• Discovered by Robert Hooke in 1678
• Spring constant, k – a measure of the
stiffness of the spring
• The negative sign means that the force
exerted by the spring is always directed
opposite the displacement of an object.
• The spring force always acts toward the
equilibrium position, hence it is sometimes
called a restoring force.
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6.3 Energy
Spring/Elastic Potential Energy
▪ Potential Energy associated with Hookean spring forces.

1 2
𝐸𝑃𝐸 = 𝑈𝑆 = 𝑘𝑥
2

▪ Where Us0 is the value of potential energy when ∆x=0 (spring equilibrium), and again this is
known as potential reference
▪We usually fix the reference at the spring equilibrium!

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6.3 Energy
Spring/Elastic Potential Energy
Example 14 (from Serway)
A spring is hung vertically and an object of mass 𝑚 attached
to the lower end is then slowly lowered a distance 𝑑 to the
equilibrium point.
(a) Find the value of the spring constant if the spring is
displaced by 2.0 cm and the mass is 0.55 kg.
(b) If a second identical spring is attached to the object in
parallel with the first spring, where is the new equilibrium
point of the system?
(c) What is the effective spring constant of the springs acting
as one?

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 b. Equilibrium point 𝑥 = ? (2 identical springs)

The forces acting on the object: 𝐹𝑆1 , 𝐹𝑆2 , and 𝑤

By the first law of motion (equilibrium)
𝐹𝑆1 + 𝐹𝑆2 − 𝑤 = 0
𝑘1 𝑥 + 𝑘2 𝑥 − 𝑚𝑔 = 0
Since the springs are identical, 𝑘1 = 𝑘2 = 𝑘
𝑘1 𝑥 + 𝑘2 𝑥 − 𝑚𝑔 = 0
2𝑘𝑥 = 𝑚𝑔
a. Spring constant, 𝑘 = ? Thus,
The elongation of the spring is caused by the weight of 𝑚
𝑚𝑔 0.55 kg 9.8 2
the attached object. By the first law of motion, 𝐹𝑠 = 𝑤, 𝑥= = 𝑠 = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟏 𝐦
m 𝑘 N
𝐹𝑠 = 𝑤 = 𝑚𝑔 = 0.55 kg 9.8 2 = 5.39 𝑁 2 269.5 m
s
Thus, c. Effective k when 2 identical springs act as one
𝐹𝑠 = 𝑘𝑥 𝐹𝑠 = 𝑘𝑥
𝐹𝑠 5.39 N N N 𝐹𝑠 5.39 N N N
→𝑘= = = 269.5 ≈ 270 →𝑘= = = 539 ≈ 540
𝑥 0.02 m m m 𝑥 0.01 m m m

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6.3 Energy
Spring/Elastic
Potential Energy
Example 15
Find the total potential energy of the basketball
player hanging on the rim. Assume that the
player can be described as a point mass of 110
kg at 2m above the floor, and the force constant
of the rim is 7.2 kN/m. The rim is displaced a
distance x=15cm.

Answer:
𝐺𝑃𝐸 = 2156 𝐽
𝐸𝑃𝐸 = 81 𝐽
Total Potential Energy = 2237 𝐽

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6.4 Conservative and Nonconservative Forces
▪ In general, there are two kinds of forces –
conservative and nonconservative forces.

CONSERVATIVE FORCE
A force is conservative if the total work it does on a
particle is zero when the particle moves around any
closed path returning to its initial position

◦ The work done by a conservative force on a

particle is independent of the path taken as
the particle moves from one point to
another
Gravitational and spring forces are conservative. The work done against gravity in climbing is
equal to the work done in recovering the
kinetic energy by taking a dive.

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 6.4 Conservative and Nonconservative Forces
NONCONSERVATIVE FORCE
▪ A nonconservative force is generally dissipative.
▪ It tends to randomly disperse the energy of bodies on
which it acts.
▪ The dispersal of energy often takes the form of heat or
sound.
▪ Common examples: kinetic friction and air drag
▪ When you move a book around some closed path on a
rough table so that the book ends up at its original
position.
The force of kinetic friction is always opposite the
direction of motion, hence it always do negative work,
and the total round trip work it does cannot be zero!!!

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Conservation of Energy
If there are non-conservative forces present in
systems, is energy still conserved? YES!!!
Mechanical Energy may not be conserved but ENERGY
(overall) is conserved!

For example, frictional forces decrease the mechanical

energy of a system, but there is an equivalent increase in
the thermal energy produced by the frictional forces!
… so “energy is still conserved.”

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6.5 Law of Conservation of Energy
When only the force of gravity does work, the total mechanical energy is constant.

𝐸 = 𝐾𝐸 + 𝑃𝐸 = 𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑚𝑒𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑦

𝐸𝑖 = 𝐸𝑓

𝑲𝑬𝒊 + 𝑷𝑬𝒊 = 𝑲𝑬𝒇 + 𝑷𝑬𝒇

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6.5 Law of Conservation of Energy

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Law of Conservation of Energy
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6.5 Law of Conservation of Energy
By the law of conservation of energy, with the presence of
both gravitational and spring potential energy,
𝐾𝐸 + 𝑃𝐸𝑔 + 𝑃𝐸𝑠 = 𝐾𝐸 + 𝑃𝐸𝑔 + 𝑃𝐸𝑠
𝑖 𝑓

For nonconservative forces, the change in mechanical

energy is equal the work done by the nonconservative
forces:
𝑊𝑛𝑐 = 𝐾𝐸 + 𝑃𝐸𝑔 + 𝑃𝐸𝑠 − 𝐾𝐸 + 𝑃𝐸𝑔 + 𝑃𝐸𝑠
𝑓 𝑖

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6.5 Law of Conservation of Energy
Example 16
Starting from rest, a cart slides frictionlessly to a point 4.5 meters below the top of the hill. How
fast was it going at this point?

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 The cart slides frictionlessly down the hill. Therefore, the
mechanical energy of the cart is conserved.

𝑣𝑖 = 0 mΤs By the law of conservation of energy,

𝑲𝑬𝒊 + 𝑷𝑬𝒊 = 𝑲𝑬𝒇 + 𝑷𝑬𝒇

Thus, if we let the bottom of the hill as our reference

position, we have
4.5 m 1 1
𝑚𝑣𝑖 + 𝑚𝑔ℎ𝑖 = 𝑚𝑣𝑓 2 + 𝑚𝑔ℎ𝑓
2
2 2
1
𝑣𝑓 =? 𝑚𝑔ℎ𝑖 = 𝑚𝑣𝑓 2
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA-NC 2
1
𝑔ℎ𝑖 = 𝑣𝑓 2
2
Does this look familiar? 𝑣𝑓 2 = 2𝑔ℎ𝑖
m
𝑣𝑓 = 2𝑔ℎ𝑖 = 2 9.8 2 4.5 m
s
∴ 𝒗𝒇 = 𝟗. 𝟒 𝒎Τ𝒔

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6.5 Law of Conservation of Energy
Example 17
From a height of 10.0 meters, Prince dropped a 2.00-kg spell book to Princess. (a) What was
the potential energy of the book when Prince released it? (b) What was the book’s kinetic
energy just before Princess caught it in her outstretched hands which were 1.50 m above the
ground? (c) How fast was the book moving as it was caught?

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 a. Potential energy of the book upon release
m
𝑃𝐸 = 𝑚𝑔ℎ = 2 kg 9.8 2 10 m
s
𝑚 = 2 kg 𝑷𝑬 = 𝟏𝟗𝟔 𝑱 (𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝)

b. Kinetic energy of the book as Princess catches it

By the law of conservation of energy,
𝑲𝑬𝒊 + 𝑷𝑬𝒊 = 𝑲𝑬𝒇 + 𝑷𝑬𝒇
m
0 + 196 𝐽 = 𝐾𝐸𝑓 + 2 kg 9.8 2 1.5 𝑚
s
10 m m
𝐾𝐸𝑓 = 196 𝐽 − 2 kg 9.8 s2 1.5 𝑚
𝑲𝑬𝒇 = 𝟏𝟔𝟔. 𝟔 𝑱

c. Speed of the book as it is caught

1.5 m Using the definition of kinetic energy
1 2𝐾𝐸 2 166.6 𝐽
𝐾𝐸𝑓 = 𝑚𝑣𝑓 2 → 𝑣𝑓 = =
2 𝑚 2 kg
𝐦
𝒗𝒇 = 𝟏𝟐. 𝟗
𝐬

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6.5 Law of Conservation of Energy

Example 18
A 15.0-kg stone slides down a snow-covered hill, leaving point A with a speed of 10.0 m/s. There
is no friction on the hill between points A and B, but there is friction on the level ground at the
bottom of the hill, between B and the wall. After entering the rough horizontal region, the
stone travels 100 m and then runs into a very long, light spring with force constant 2.00 N/m.
The coefficients of kinetic and static friction between the stone and the horizontal ground are
0.20 and 0.80, respectively.
(a) What is the speed of the stone when it reaches point B?
(b) How far will the stone compress the spring?
(c) Will the stone move again after it has been stopped by the spring?

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 a. Speed of the stone when it reaches point B
m
𝑣𝐴 = 10.0 𝐾𝐸 + 𝑃𝐸𝑔 + 𝑃𝐸𝑠 = 𝐾𝐸 + 𝑃𝐸𝑔 + 𝑃𝐸𝑠
s 𝐴 𝐵

𝐾𝐸𝐴 + 𝑃𝐸𝑔 = 𝐾𝐸𝐵

𝐴

1 1
𝑚𝑣𝐴 + 𝑚𝑔ℎ𝐴 = 𝑚𝑣𝐵 2
2
2 2

𝑣𝐴 2 + 2𝑔ℎ𝐴 = 𝑣𝐵 2

𝑣𝐵 = 𝑣𝐴 2 + 2𝑔ℎ𝐴

m 2 m
𝑣𝐵 = 10 + 2 9.8 20𝑚
s s2

𝐦 𝐦
𝒗𝑩 = 𝟐𝟐. 𝟏𝟖𝟏𝟏 ≈ 𝟐𝟐. 𝟐
𝐬 𝐬

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 m b. Displacement of the spring
𝑣𝐴 = 10.0
s
𝑊𝑛𝑐 = 𝐾𝐸 + 𝑃𝐸𝑔 + 𝑃𝐸𝑠 − 𝐾𝐸 + 𝑃𝐸𝑔 + 𝑃𝐸𝑠
𝑓 𝑖
1 2 1
−𝑓(𝑑 + 𝑥) = 0 + 0 + 𝑘𝑥 − 𝑚𝑣𝐵 2 + 0 + 0
2 2
1 1
−𝜇𝑘 𝑚𝑔 𝑑 + 𝑥 = 𝑘𝑥 2 − 𝑚𝑣𝐵 2
2 2
1 1
−𝜇𝑘 𝑚𝑔𝑑 − 𝜇𝑘 𝑚𝑔𝑥 = 𝑘𝑥 2 − 𝑚𝑣𝐵 2
2 2
1 1
−𝜇𝑘 𝑚𝑔𝑑 + 𝑚𝑣𝐵 2 = 𝑘𝑥 2 + 𝜇𝑘 𝑚𝑔𝑥
2 2
2
Multiply all the terms by 𝑚

𝑘𝑥 2
2
−2𝜇𝑘 𝑔𝑑 + 𝑣𝐵 = + 2𝜇𝑘 𝑔𝑥
𝑚
𝑁
𝑚 m 2 2𝑚 m
−2 0.2 9.8 2 100 𝑚 + 22.1811 = 𝑥 2 + 2 0.2 9.8 2 𝑥
𝑠 s 15 𝑘𝑔 s

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 m
𝑣𝐴 = 10.0 m2 m
s
100 2 = 0.13333 𝑥 2 + 3.92 2 𝑥
s s
m m2
0.13333 𝑥2 + 3.92 2 𝑥 − 100 2 = 0
s s

Use quadratic formula to solve for 𝑥

𝒙 = 𝟏𝟔. 𝟑𝟖𝟑𝟏 𝐦 ≈ 𝟏𝟔. 𝟒 𝐦

c. Will the stone move again after it has been stopped by the spring?

We check the spring force and the friction.

NO!!!
𝑁
𝐹𝑆 = 𝑘𝑥 = 2 16.4 m = 32.8 𝑁
𝑚
m 𝑓𝑠 > 𝐹𝑆
𝑓𝑠 = 𝜇𝑠 𝑚𝑔 = 0.8 15 𝑘𝑔 9.8 2 = 117.6 𝑁
s

33
References
Serway, R. A. & Vuille, C. (2018). College Physics. USA: Cengage Learning Asia Pte Ltd.
Cutnell, J. & Johnson, K. (2012). Physics (9th ed.). New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Young, H. D. (2019). Sears and Zemansky's University Physics with Modern Physics (15th ed.).
London: Pearson.

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 <<THE END>>

Work and Energy

LESSON 6

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