KIG 2002 Dynamics

Lecture 5: Kinetic of Particles: Work and Energy

5.1 Introduction

Previously, problems dealing with the motion of particles were solved through the fundamental equation of motion
 
 F  ma . There are actually 2 additional methods of analysis.
i) Principle of work and energy: directly relates force, mass, velocity and displacement.
T1  V1  U12  T2  V2

ii) Principle of impulse and momentum: directly relates force, mass, velocity, and time.
t1
L1    Fdt  L2
t2

5.2 Work of a Force

i) Differential vector dr is the particle displacement

ii) Work of a force is
dU  F .dr
 F ds cos 
 Fx dx  Fy dy  Fz dz

iii) Work is a scalar quantity, i.e., it has magnitude and sign

but not direction.
iv) Formula of work is Force x Length ( U  Fd ).
Unit is Joule where 1 J (Joule) = 1 Nm

v) Work of a force during a finite displacement,

A2

U1 2   F .dr
A1

S2 S2

  ( F cos  )ds   Ft ds
S1 S1

A2

  ( Fx dx  Fy dy  Fz dz )
A1

vi) Work is represented by the area under the curve of

Ft plotted against s.

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vii) Work of a constant force in rectilinear motion,
U12  ( F cos  )x

viii) Forces which do not do work (ds = 0 or cos   0 )

a) reaction at frictionless pin supporting rotating body
b) reaction at frictionless surface when body in contact moves along surface
c) weight of a body when its center of gravity moves horizontally

5. 3 Principle of Work & Energy

i) Consider a particle of mass m acted upon by a force

dv
Ft  mat  m
dt
dv ds dv
m  mv
ds dt ds
Ft ds  mvdv

ii) Integrating from A to A ,

1 2
s2 v2

 F ds  m  vdv
s1
t
v1

1 2 1 2
 mv2  mv1
2 2

U12  T2  T1
1
Where T  mv is the kinetic energy
2

iii) The work of the force is equal to the change in kinetic energy of the particle.

iv) Units of work and kinetic energy are the same:

2
1 m  m 
T  mv 2  kg     kg 2  m  Nm  J
2 s  s 

5.4 Applications of the Principle of Work & Energy

• The bob is held at point 1 and if we wish to find the velocity of pendulum bob at point 2, we have to consider the
method of work and energy. Force P acts normal to path and does no work.

• In this method, unlike the method of Newton 2nd Law, we can find velocity without having to determine expression
for acceleration and integrating.

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 T1  U12  T2
1
0  mg (l )  mv22
2
v2  2 gl

• All quantities are scalars and can be added directly. Forces which do no work (eg. In this case is the tension in the cord)
are eliminated from the problem.

• Principle of work and energy cannot be applied to directly determine the acceleration of the pendulum bob.

• The tension in the cord is required to supplement the method of work and energy with an application of Newton’s
second law.

• As the bob passes through A ,

2

F n  man
v22
P  mg  m
l
2 gl
P  mg  m  3mg
l

5.5 Power and Efficiency

• Power = rate at which work is done.

dU F .dr
Power  
dt dt
 F .v

• Dimensions of power are work/time or force x velocity. Units for power,

J m ft.lb
1W ( watt )  1  1N . or 1hp  550  746W
s s s

• Efficiency is the ratio of the power output to the power input,

work output

work input
power output

power input

5.6 Sample Problem 13.1

An automobile weighing 4000 N is driven down a 5o incline at a speed

of 88 m /s when the brakes are applied causing a constant total
breaking force of 1500 N. Determine the distance traveled by the
automobile as it comes to a stop.

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• Evaluate the change in kinetic energy.
v1  88 m s
T1  12 mv12  12 4000 / 1088  1548800N  m
2

v2  0
T2  0

• Determine the distance required for the work to

equal the kinetic energy change.
T1  U1 2  T2
1548800  (4000sin 5  1500) x  0
x  1345.6m

5.7 Sample Problem 13.2

Two blocks are joined by an inextensible cable as shown. If the system

is released from rest, determine the velocity of block A after it has
moved 2 m. Assume that the coefficient of friction between block
A and the plane is μ = 0.25 and that the pulley is weightless and
k
frictionless.

• Apply the principle of work and energy separately to blocks A and B.

Block A:
N A  mg  200(9.81)  1962 N
FA  k N A  0.25(1962)  490 N

T1  U1 2  T2
1
0  (T  FA )(2)  k N A  mAv 2
2
T  490  50v 2
Block B
T1  U1 2  T2
1
0  (mB g  T )2  mB v 2
2
1
(300 g  T )2  (300)v 2
2
300 g  T  75v 2

• Solve the 2 equations,

v  4.43 m s

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5.8 Potential Energy

There are 2 types of potential energy

i) Gravitational Potential Energy, Vg
ii) Elastic Potential Energy, Ve

Gravitational Potential Energy (Vg)

• Work of the force of gravity W,

U12  W y1  W y2

• Work is independent of path followed, it depends only on the initial and final values of W(dy).
U12  Vg 1  Vg 2

• Choice of datum from which the elevation y is measured is arbitrary. But always choose the lower position as the
datum to avoid negative potential energy. Units of work and potential energy are the same:
Vg  W (dy)  N  m  J

Elastic Potential Energy, Ve

• Work of the force exerted by a spring depends

only on the initial and final deflections of the
spring,
U12  12 kx12  12 kx22

• The potential energy of the body with respect to

elastic force,
Ve  12 kx2
U12  Ve 1  Ve 2

• Note that the preceding expression for Ve is valid

only if the deflection of the spring is measured
from its undeformed position.
U12  12 kx2

5.9 Conservation of Energy

• Conservation of energy equation,

T1  V1  T2  V2
E  T  V  constant

• When a particle moves under the action of conservative forces, the total mechanical energy, E is constant.

• Friction forces are not conservative. Total mechanical energy of a system involving friction decreases. Mechanical
energy is dissipated by friction into thermal energy or heat.

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 T1  0 V1  mg
T1  V1  mg

1
T2  12 mv22  m  2g   mg V2  0
2
T2  V2  mg

5.10 Sample Problem 13.6

A 20-N collar slides without friction along a vertical rod as shown. The spring attached to the collar has an undeflected
length of 4 cm and a constant of 3 N/cm. If the collar is released from rest at position 1, determine its velocity after it has
moved 6 cm to position 2.

• Apply the principle of conservation of energy between

positions 1 and 2.

Position 1:
Ve  12 k (x1 ) 2  12  38  4   24 N  cm
2

V1  Ve  Vg  24  0  24
T1  0

Position 2:
 310  4   54 N  cm
Ve  12 k (x2 ) 2  1 2
2

Vg  mgy   20  6   120 N  cm
V2  Ve  Vg  54  120  66 N  cm
1  20  2
T2  12 mv22    v2  1.02v2
2

2  9.81 

• Conservation of Energy:
T1  V1  T2  V2
0  24  1.02v22  66
v2  9.39 m s 

5.11 Sample Problem 13.3

A spring is used to stop a 60 kg package which is sliding

on a horizontal surface. The spring has a constant
k = 20 kN/m and is held by cables so that it is initially
compressed 120 mm. The package has a velocity of
2.5 m/s in the position shown and the maximum

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deflection of the spring is 40 mm. Determine

(a) The coefficient of kinetic friction between the package and surface
(b) The velocity of the package as it passes again through the position shown.

Solution:

(a) Use principle of work and energy equation,

N  60 g
F  k N

T1  V1  U12  T2  V2
1 2 1 1
mu  kx1  ( N ) s  kx2  0
2 2

2 2 2

1
602.52  1 (20000)(0.12) 2   (60g )(0.6  0.04)  1 (20000)(0.12  0.04) 2
2 2 2
  0.20

(b) Apply the principle of work and energy for the rebound of the package.

T2  V2  U 23  T3  V3
1 1 1
0  kx2  ( N ) s  mv3  kx3
2 2 2

2 2 2

1 1 1
(20000)(0.16) 2  (0.2)(60g )(0.64)  (60)v3  (20000)(0.12) 2
2

2 2 2
v3  1.11 m / s

NB: Part B demonstrates that the final velocity at 3 is less than the initial velocity at 1. This is due to the loss of energy due
to friction. The total mechanical energy is not conserved.

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