P5  Energy and conservation

Atanu Bandyopadhyay
 Work
 
When a constant force acts on a given body, producing a displacement , the work done is given by . (Unit
– Nm or usually Joule).
If the force acts at an angle to the direction of displacement, the work done is given by .
1. A block of mass m = 5 kg slides down from the top of an inclined plane of inclination = 30° with the
horizontal. The coefficient of sliding friction between the block and the plane is 0.25. The length of the
plane is 2 m. Find the work done by the (a) gravitational force, (b) frictional force and (c) normal
reaction if the block slides to the the bottom of the plane.
2. A block of mass m = 2 kg is raised vertically upwards by means of a massless string through a distance of
S = 4 m with a constant acceleration a = 2.2 ms –2 . Find the work done by (a) tension and (b) gravity.
Also find the net work done on the block.
3. A block of mass m = 2 kg is suspended by a light string from the ceiling of a lift. The lift starts moving
down with an acceleration a = 1.8 ms–2 . Find the work done by the tension in the string during the first 5
seconds.
 Energy

 
Energy can be defined as the capacity or ability to do work and is measured by the amount of work a
body can do. It has the same unit of work – joule.
Energy can exist in various forms, such as heat energy, electrical energy, sound energy, light energy, chemical energy,
nuclear energy, mechanical energy, etc. We will be mainly concerned with mechanical energy. Mechanical energy is of
two types, kinetic and potential.

Kinetic energy is energy due to motion.

The kinetic energy of a body of mass m, moving with a velocity v is given by .
Potential energy is energy due to its position and configuration, in a force field like gravity or any other. .
 Energy conservation
 
The total energy of a body remains the same unless any work is done on the body or work is done by the
body.
If work is done , then energy conservation reads : .
This work done is negative if work is done by the system, and positive if it is done on the system.
4. Show that a ball that falls down straight a height has the same speed as it will if it rolled down an
inclined plane of any angle by the same height.
5. A pendulum bob of length 25 cm has a speed of 3 m/s while passing through its lowest position. What is
its speed when it makes an angle of 60 0 with the vertical?
6. A body of mass m dropped from a height H reaches the ground with a speed of . Calculate the work done
by the air friction.
 Problems
7. A
  block of mass M is pulled along a horizontal surface by applying a force at an angle to the horizontal.
The frictional coefficient with the block and the surface is . If the block travels at a uniform velocity, find
the work done by the applied force during a displacement d of the block.

8. A particle is placed at the point A of a frictionless track ABC as shown in the figure alongside. It is
pushed slightly towards the right. Find its speed when it reaches the point B.

9. A block of mass 250 g slides down an incline of inclination 37 0 with a uniform speed. Find the work done
against friction as the block slides through 1.0 m.

10. A box weighing 2000 N is to be slowly slid through 20 m on a straight track having friction coefficient 0.2
with the box. Find the work done by a person pulling the block with a chain at an angle with the
horizontal.
 Problems
11. A block of weight 100 N is slowly slid up on a smooth incline of inclination 37° by a person. Calculate
the work done by the person in moving the block through a distance of 2 m, if the driving force is (a)
parallel to the incline and (b) in the horizontal direction.
12. A 250 g block slides on a rough horizontal table. Find the work done by the frictional force in bringing
the block to rest if it is initially moving at a speed of 40 cm/s. If the friction coefficient between the table
and the block is 0.1, how far does the block move before coming to rest?
13. The heavier block in an Atwood machine has a mass twice that of the lighter one. The tension in the
string is 16 N when the system is set into motion. Find the decrease in the gravitational potential energy
during the first second after the system is relseased from rest.
14. The two blocks in an Atwood machine has massed 2 kg and 3 kg respectively. Find the work done by
gravity during the fourth second after the system is released from rest.