6.

Work, Energy, and Power

The Dot Product
3
The Dot Product
A
B
where u is the angle between the vectors and A
and B are their magnitudes.
cos A B AB u =
The dot product is the scalar
4
The Dot Product
A few properties of the dot product:
2
( )
A A A
A B B A
A B C A B A C
=
=
+ = +
cos A B AB u =
5
The Dot Product
C A B = +
C C A A B B A B B A = + + +
The definition of the dot product is consistent
with standard trigonometric
relationships. For example:
2 2 2
2 cos C A B AB u = + +
Law of cosines
6
The Dot Product

x y z
B B i B j B k = + +

x y z
A A i A j A k = + +
The definition
where
x x y y z z
A B A B A B A B = + +
cos A B AB | =
implies
Work and Kinetic Energy
8
Energy Principles
net
F a m =
So far we have solved motion problems by
1. adding up all the forces to get the net force
2. and applying Newtons laws, e.g.,
2
nd
Law
Another way to solve such problems is to use an
alternative form of Newtons laws, based on
energy principles.
9
Energy Principles
We are about to deduce an important energy
principle from Newtons laws.

However, today physicists view energy principles,
such as the conservation of energy, as
fundamental laws of Nature that are independent
of the validity of Newtons laws.

We start with the concept of kinetic energy.
10
Kinetic Energy
net
F m
m
dK
dt
v v a
v
dt
v
d
=
=
=
First, take the dot product of the 2
nd
law with
the velocity v
2
1
net
B K
A K
dK
F vdt dt
dt
=
} }
Next, integrate both sides
with respect to time
along a path from
point A to point B

2
1
2
K mv = is the kinetic energy
where
11
Kinetic Energy
When the right-hand side is integrated, we
obtain the difference between the final and
initial kinetic energies, K
2
and K
1
, respectively:
2 2
1 1
net 2 1
B K K
A K K
dK
F vdt dt dK K K
dt
= = =
} } }
12
Work
The left-hand side
net
B
A
F vdt
}
is called net work
can be rewritten as
net net
B B
A A
dr
F dt F dr
dt
=
} }
net
B
A
W F dr =
}
The quantity
13
The Work-Kinetic Energy
Theorem
2 1
W K K K = = A
The net work, W, done by the net force on an
object equals the change, AK, in its kinetic energy.
Energy is measured in joules (J):
J = N m
Work can be positive or negative.
Kinetic energy is always positive.
Work-Kinetic Energy
Theorem Examples
15
Example Lifting a truck
A truck of mass 3000 kg is to
be loaded onto a ship using
a crane that exerts a force of
31 kN over a
displacement of 2m.

Find the upward speed of
truck after its displacement.
16
Example (2)
g app 2 1
W W W K K = + =
Two forces act on the truck:
1. Gravity w
2. Force of crane F
app

Apply the work-kinetic energy
theorem
17
Example (3)
net ne
n t
t
e
B B
A A
W F dr F dr
F r
= =
= A
} }
Since the forces are constant over
the displacement, we can write
the work as
that is, as the dot product of
the net force and the
displacement.
18
Example (4)
g
(3000 kg)(9.81 N
c
/
os
kg
180
1 )(2 m)( )
58.9 kJ
o
W w y mg y = A = A
=
=

Work done on truck by gravity

app app app
cos
(31kN)(2 m)( )
62.0 J
0
1
k
o
W F y F y = A = A
=
=
Work done on truck by crane
19
Example (5)
2 2
1 1
app 2 1 2 2 g
W W mv mv + =
From the work-kinetic energy theorem
app
2 2
2 1
2 2
2( )
2( 58, 900 J 62, 000 J)
0
3000
1.45m
kg
2.09 m / s s /
g
W W
v v
m
+
= +
+
= +
=
we obtain:
20
Example Compressed Spring
Find work done on block
for a displacement, Ax = 5 cm

Find speed of block
at x = 0

i F x k =
Hooks Law
m = 4 kg
k = 400 N/m
21
Example (2)
Compute work done
2 2
1 1
2
1
2 2 2
1 1
2 1 2 2
( )
| ( )
B x x
A x x
x
x
W F dr kx dx k x dx
kx k x x
= = =
= =
} } }
m = 4 kg
k = 400 N/m
22
Example (3)
2 2
1
2 1 2
2 2
1
2
( )
(400 N/m)((0m) ( 0.05
0.500
m )
J
)
W k x x =
=
=
m = 4 kg
k = 400 N/m
23
Example (4)
Now apply work-kinetic energy theorem
2 2
1 1
2 2 f i
W mv mv =
2
2
f i
W
v v
m
= +

v
i
initial speed
v
f
final speed
m = 4 kg
k = 400 N/m
24
Example (5)
Speed at x = 0
2
m 2(0.500 J
0.5
)
0
s
m
kg
/
4
s
f
v
| |
= + =
|
\ .
Why did we ignore gravity
and the normal force?
m = 4 kg
k = 400 N/m
Power
26
Power
Power is the rate at which work is done, or
energy produced, or used.

If the change in work is AW, in time interval
At, then the average power is given by
W
P
t
A
=
A
while the instantaneous power is
0
lim
t
W dW
P
t dt
A
A
= =
A
27
Power
The SI unit of power is the watt (W) named
after the Scottish inventor James Watt.

W = J / s

Example: A 100 watt light bulb converts
electrical energy to light and heat at the rate
of 100 joules/s.
28
Power
Given a force F and a small displacement dr
the work done is dW F dr =
therefore, the power can be written as
dW dr
P F F v
dt dt
= = =
that is, the dot product of the force and the
velocity.
29
Example Bicycling
A cyclist who wants to move at velocity v
while overcoming a force F must produce a
power output of at least P = Fv. At 5 m/s
against an air resistance of F = 30 N, P = 150 W.

However, even going up a gentle slope of 5
o
, an
82 kg cyclist (+ bike) needs to output 500 W!
air
( sin ) P Fv F mg v u = = +
30
Summary
The work-energy theorem relates the net work
done on an object to the change in its kinetic
energy: W = K

Work done on an object by a force is

Power is rate at which work is done
B
A
F dr
}