Chapter 8

Conservation
of Energy
Details and Figures in this presentation are taken from: Halliday, David, Robert Resnick, Jearl Walker. Principles of Physics, 10
th
Ed, University Physics by Young and Freedman, 11 th Ed, Physics for Scientists and Engineers by Serway, 5 th Ed, Physics for
Scientists and engineers by Giancoli 3 rd Ed, and many websites like physicsclassroom.com, HyperPhysics.com & Past exams
of PHYCS 101 Department of Physics at UoB.

Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, Fall 2016

 PRINCIPLE of
CONSERVATION of ENERGY

Energy
neither created
nor destroyed.
Energy is conserved
Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, Fall 2016
 Conservative Forces & Potential Energy
A tomato is thrown upward. As it rises, the
gravitational force does negative work on it,
decreasing its kinetic energy. As the tomato
descends, the gravitational force does
positive work on it, increasing its kinetic
energy.

Wnet  K
K  U g

U g  Wnet U g  PE  mg h
Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, Fall 2016
 Conservative Forces & Potential Energy
A block, attached to a spring and initially at
rest at x = 0 is set in motion toward the right.
(a) As the block moves rightward, the spring
force does negative work on it.
(b) Then, as the block moves back toward
x = 0, the spring force does positive work on
it.

Wnet  K
K  U el
1 2
U el  Wnet U el  kx
2
Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, Fall 2016
 Conservative Force

 A conservative force is defined as one for which the work

done in moving between two points A and B is
independent of the path taken between the two points.

 The implication of "conservative" in this context is that you

could move it from A to B by one path and return to A by
another path with no net loss of energy - any closed return
path to A takes net zero work.
Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, Fall 2016
 Conservative Force is Path
Independent
The work done by a
conservative force on
a particle moving
between two points
does not depend on
the path taken by the
particle.

The net work done by a

conservative force on a
particle moving around
any closed path is zero.
Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, Fall 2016
 Non-conservative Force
 The work done
against friction is greater
along the brown path
than along the blue path.

 Because the work

done depends on the
path.

 Friction force is a
non-conservative force.

Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, Fall 2016

 TOTAL MECHANICAL ENERGY

E  K U
E  K  U g  U el
1 1 2
E  m  mgh  kx
2

2 2
Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, Fall 2016
 Work Energy Theorem
Any woke done on a system will cause change
in its energy

Wnet  E f  Ei Wnet  WF  W f k

Or simply, Wnet  E
Wnet  K  U
Wnet  ( K f  U f )  ( K i  U i )
Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, Fall 2016
 Energy is conserved
Energy Transformation on a Roller Coaster
No external forces and friction
 Wnet = 0

Wnet  E  Ef - Ei Ef  Ei Ki  U i  K f  U f
A roller coaster ride also illustrates the work-energy theorem. The
work-energy theorem states that the work done by external forces
is capable of changing the total amount of mechanical energy from
an initial value to some final value
Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, Fall 2016
 Energy is conserved
Energy Transformation for a Pendulum

No external forces and friction

 Wnet = 0

Wnet  E  Ef - Ei Ef  Ei Ki  U i  K f  U f
Since there are no external forces doing work, the total mechanical energy of the
pendulum bob is conserved. Observe the KE and PE bars of the bar chart; their sum
is a constant value.
Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, Fall 2016
 How High Will It Go?
No external forces and friction,  Wnet = 0

Wnet  E  Ef - Ei Ef  Ei Ki  U i  K f  U f
In the initial state on top of the hill, the slider has both and potential energy.
The amount of kinetic energy is dependent upon mass and speed. Since the
quantity of mechanical energy will be conserved, the slider must still have the
same mechanical energy by the time he/she comes to a stop on the opposite
incline.
Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, Fall 2016
Energy is Conserved
Why both Paul and Kathleen reach the
water surface with the same speed ?

No external forces and

friction
 Wnet = 0

Ef  Ei
Ki  U i  K f  U f
Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, Fall 2016
 Energy is conserved
Energy Transformation for a Projectile
No external
forces and
friction
 Wnet = 0

Ef  Ei
Ki  U i  K f  U f

The springs of the dart gun are compressed which accounts for the
elastic potential energy. Furthermore, the dart is initially elevated at a
height of 1m above the ground which accounts for the gravitational
potential energy. The presence of these two initial forms of energy are
shown by the PEg and PEs bars of the bar chart.
Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, Fall 2016
 Test Problem
A 2-kg rock is thrown from the roof of a
20 m tall building with an initial speed
o = 20 m/s at an angle , as shown in
the figure. The rock’s kinetic energy (in
J) just before striking the ground is:

a) 500 Wnet  E f  Ei No external forces and friction

b) 800 Wnet  0 J  Wnet = 0

c) 1300 1
Ei  K i  U i  mi2  mghi 
1
 2  20 2  2 10  20  800 J
d) 2000 2 2
e) 2900 1
E f  K f  U f  m 2f  mgh f  Kf 0 Kf
2
0  K f  800
Solution
 K f  800 J
Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, Fall 2016
As shown in the figure, if the thrown identical balls are projected with
the same initial speed at different projection angle, which one will hit the
ground with the greatest velocity?

No external forces and friction

 Wnet = 0

Ef  Ei
Ki  U i  K f  U f
All the balls hits the ground with the
same kinetic energy
Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, Fall 2016
 No external forces
and friction
 Wnet = 0

Ef  Ei

Ki  U i  K f  U f

Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, Fall 2016

 Test Problem
A mass of 4 kg is sliding on a frictionless horizontal surface with a speed
of v. If the mass encounters a spring with k = 10000 N/m and compresses
it a maximum distance of 0.1 m, then the blocks initial velocity v (in m/s)
is:

(a) 5
(b)10 Solution
(c)15 Wnet  E f  Ei
No external forces and friction
(d) 20 Wnet  0 J  Wnet = 0
1 1 2 1 1
Ei  K i  U i  mi  kxi  4 i  10000 0 2  2i2
2 2

2 2 2 2
1 1 1 1
E f  K f  U f  m 2f  kx 2f  4  0 2  10000 0.12  50 J
2 2 2 2
0  50  2i2  f  5 m / s
Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, Fall 2016
 Test Problem
A 1 kg block slides from rest down the smooth track from a height of 2 m,
and comes to rest after compressing a spring a distance x = 10 cm. The
force constant k (in N/m) of the spring is:

Solution
(a) 160
(b) 250
(c) 1000
(d) 4000 Wnet  E f  Ei
No external forces and friction
Wnet  0 J
 Wnet = 0
1 1
Ei  K i  U i  mi  mghi  1 0 2  110  2  20 J
2

2 2
1 1 2 1 1
E f  K f  U f  m f  kx  1 0   k  0.12  5 10 3 k
2 2

2 2 2 2
0  5 10 3 k  20  k  4000 N / m
Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, Fall 2016
Energy is conserved
No external forces and friction,  Wnet = 0

Ef  Ei
Ki  U i  K f  U f

Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, Fall 2016

 Rough surface

Friction force  0

Ki  U i  K f  U f
Work is done by force of friction.
Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, Fall 2016
 Work Done on a System by an External
Force
Work is energy transferred to or from
a system by means of an external
force acting on that system.

Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, Fall 2016

Work Done on a System by an External
Force

Ki  U i  K f  U f
Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, Fall 2016
 Energy Transformation for Downhill Skiing

Wnet  E f  Ei
WF  W fk  K f  Ki  U f  U i
 f k d  K f  Ki

The skier begins at an elevated position, thus possessing a large quantity of potential energy
(i.e., energy of vertical position). If starting from rest, the mechanical energy of the skier is
entirely in the form of potential energy. As the skier begins the descent down the hill, potential
energy is lost and kinetic energy (i.e., energy of motion) is gained. As the skier loses height (and
thus loses potential energy), she gains speed (and thus gains kinetic energy). Once the skier
reaches the bottom of the hill, her height reaches a value of 0 meters, indicating a total depletion
of her potential energy. At this point, her speed and kinetic energy have reached a maximum.
Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, Fall 2016
 Test Problem
A block of mass m = 1 kg is held
compressing a spring with constant
k = 8000 N/m a distance x = 0.1 m on
a rough horizontal surface. After
releasing the block, it moves a distance
d = 10 m before coming to rest. What
is the coefficient of kinetic friction, μk?
Solution
(a) 0.1 Wnet  E f  Ei
(b) 0.2 Wnet  WF  W f k  0  f k d    k mg d    k 110 10  100  k
(c) 0.3 1
Ei  K i  U i 
1 1
mi2  kxi2  0   8000  0.12  4 J
(d) 0.4 2 2 2
Ef  K f U f  0 J
 100  k  0  4
  k  0.4
Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, Fall 2016
 Test Problem
An 8 kg block rests on a horizontal frictionless surface and is attached to an
unstretched spring of k = 1200 N/m. A force F is applied such that when the
spring is stretched by 30 cm, the block is moving to the right with a speed of
1 m/s. The work done (in J) by the force is:

(a) 10
(b)28 Solution
(c) 58
Wnet  E f  Ei
(d)100
Wnet  WF  W f k  WF  0  WF
1 1
Ei  K i  U i  mi2  kxi2  0  0  0 J
2 2
1 1 1 1
E f  K f  U f  m 2f  kx 2f   8  12   1200  0.32  58 J
2 2 2 2
WF  58  0  58 J
Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, Fall 2016
 Test Problem
A 2-kg block resting on a horizontal
frictionless surface is attached to a spring
with force constant k = 800 N/m. The spring
is initially unstretched, but then a constant
force F = 63 N is applied on the block, as
shown in the figure. If the block travels a
distance of 10 cm from its initial position,
then its speed (in m/s) is close to:
Solution
Wnet  E f  Ei
a) 1 Wnet  WF  W f k  WF  0  WF  F x cos 37  63  0.1 0.8  5.04 J
b) 2 1 1 2
Ei  K i  U i  mi  mghi  kxi  0  0  0  0 J
2

c) 3 2 2
1 1 2 1 1
d) 4 E f  K f  U f  m f  kx f   2   f   800  0.12   2f  4 J
2 2

2 2 2 2
e) 5  5   2f  4 J  0  f  1 m / s
Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, Fall 2016
 Test Problem
In the system shown m1 = 2 kg, m2 = 4 kg, the spring
constant k = 200 N/m and the surface is smooth. If the
system is released from rest and with the spring
unstretched, what is the maximum distance (in m) m2
will descend?
Solution
(a) 0.1 Wnet  E f  Ei
(b) 0.2 Wnet  WF  W f k  WT  WT  0  0 J

(c) 0.4 1 1 2
Ei  K i  U i  mi  mghi  kxi  0  mg h  0  40 x
2

2 2
(d) 0.8 1 1 2 1
E f  K f  U f  m f  mgh f  kx f  0  0   200  h 2  100 h 2
2

2 2 2
0  100 h 2  40 h h  0.4 m
Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, Fall 2016
 Test Problem
A 2-kg mass is sliding down a rough circular
track (radius r = 2.0 m), as shown in the figure.
If the speeds of the mass at point A, A= 4 m/s,
while at point B, B = 6.0 m/s, then the work
done by the force of friction (in J) between
points A and B is:

a) -5 Solution
Wnet  E f  Ei
b) -8
Wnet  WF  W f k  0  W f k  W f k
c) -13 1 1
d) -20 Ei  K i  U i  mi  mghi   2  4 2  2  10  2  56 J
2

2 2
e) -29 1 1
E f  K f  U f  m f  mgh f   2  6 2  2  10  0  36 J
2

2 2
W f k  36  56  20 J
Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, Fall 2016
 Test Problem B  R g
A toy car is released from rest at point
A shown in the figure. The car
achieved the minimum speed required
to travel the loop-the loop (the normal
force on the car by the track is zero at
point B). If the loop-the-loop has a
radius R = 10 cm, then the minimum No external forces and friction
height h (in cm) of point A is:  Wnet = 0
Solution
a) 25 Wnet  E f  Ei
b) 50 Wnet  0 J
c) 75 Ei  K i  U i 
1
mi2  mghi  0  m g h  m g h
d) 100 2
1 1
e) 125 E f  K f  U f  m 2f  mgh f  m ( Rg )  mg (2 R)  2.5 m
2 2
0  2.5 m  mgh  h  0.25 m  25 cm
Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, Fall 2016
 Test Problem
A 100 kg roller coaster car rolls
from rest at point A. If the car
speed at point B is 11 m/s, then
the work (in J) done by friction
is:

(a) -1550 Wext  E f  Ei Solution

(b)-2800 Wext  WF  W f k  0  W f k  W f k
(c) -3950 1
Ei  K i  U i  mi2  mghi  0  100  10  30  30000 J
(d)-5000 2
1
E f  K f  U f  m 2f  mgh f
2
1
E f  100  112  100  10  20  26050 J
2
W f k  26050  30000  3950 J
Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, Fall 2016
Extra Example
&
Tests Problems
Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, Fall 2016
 Object Falling From Rest
As an object falls from rest, its gravitational potential energy
is converted to kinetic energy. Conservation of energy as a
tool permits the calculation of the velocity just before it hits
the surface.
Ki  U i  K f  U f

Consider g = 10 m/s2
if h = 1 m, then v ~ 4.5 m/s ~ 16 km/hr
If h = 100 m, then v ~ 45 m/s ~ 160 km/hr

Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, Fall 2016

 Energy is conserved
In Figure the surfaces are smooth and the blocks started from rest. In
both situations the bock’s speed at point B is the same. Let y1 = 2 m,
and y2 = 1 m,
A A

B B

Wnet  E  Ef - Ei Ef  Ei
No external forces and friction Ki  U i  K f  U f
 Wnet = 0
Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, Fall 2016
 Test Problem B
A 0.5 kg football is kicked at ground level
with initial speed of v0 at an angle  above v0 ymax
the horizontal. If the ball reached a
maximum height of ymax= 8 m, then the
A 
change in the ball’s kinetic energy (in J)
between point A and point B is: Solution
a) -25 Wnet  E f  Ei
No external forces and friction
b) -40 Wnet  0 J  Wnet = 0
1
c) -50 Ei  K i  U i  mi2  mghi  K i  0.5  10  0  K i
2
d) -60 1
E f  K f  U f  m 2f  mgh f  K f  0.5  10  8  K f  40
2
0  K f  40  K i  40  K
 K  40 J
Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, Fall 2016
 Test Problem
A block leaves a 53 incline with a speed of v = 15 m/s, point A. The
maximum height hmax (in m) reached by the block above A is:

Solution
(a) 0.8
(b)3.2 Ei  E f
(c) 7.2 Ki  U i  K f  U f
(d)12.8 1 2 1
m0  mghi  m 2  mgh f
2 2
1 2 1
15  0  (15cos 53)2  10  hmax
2 2
112.5  40.5  10 hmax No external forces and
friction
10 hmax  72
 Wnet = 0
hmax  7.2 m
Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, Fall 2016
 Test Problem
A block is released from rest at the top of an inclined surface that makes an
angle of 37o with the horizontal as shown in the figure. The coefficient of
kinetic friction between the block and the incline is k = 0.25. After sliding a
distance d = 1.0 m downwards along the incline, the block’s speed (in m/s) is:
a) 1.5
Solution
Wnet  E f  Ei
b) 2.0
WF  W fk  K f  Ki  U f  U i
c) 2.8
1
d) 3.5 0  fk d  m 2f  0  0  mgh
2
e) 4.0
1 2
 k mg  cos 37  d  m f  mg  d sin 37 
2
1 2
0.25 10  0.8 1   f  10 1 0.6
2
1 2
2   f  6  f  2.8 m / s
2
Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, Fall 2016
 Test Problem
A block at the bottom of a rough incline (μk = 0.1) is moving up the
incline with an initial velocity v1 = 8 m/s. The incline makes an angle of
37 with the horizontal. The maximum distance d (in m) the block travels
up the incline is:
Solution
(a) 1.2 Wnet  E f  Ei
(b) 2.6 WF  W fk  K f  Ki  U f  U i
(c) 4.7 1
0  f k d  0  mi2  mgh  0
(d) 7.4 2
1
 k mg  cos 37  d   m12  mg  d sin 37 
2
1 2
0.1  10  0.8  d   8  10  0.6  d
2
0.8  d  32  6  d  d  4.7 m

Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, Fall 2016

 Test Problem
A block slides down a smooth curved track and then up a rough 37 incline
with μk= 0.2, as in the figure. If the block slides down from rest from a height
h0 = 1.5 m, then the maximum height hmax (in m) reached by the block on the
rough incline is:

(a) 0.39
(b) 0.79
(c) 1.18
(d) 1.58
Wnet  E f  Ei
Wnet  K f  Ki  U f  U i  WF  W f  mghmax  mgh0
0  (  f mg cos 37) (hmax / sin 37)  mghmax  mgh0
(  f cos 37) (hmax / sin 37)  hmax  h0
0.27 hmax  hmax  1.5   hmax  1.18 m

Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, Fall 2016

 Test Problem
A block of mass m = 10 kg initially at rest at point A. If the block starts sliding
down the rough track reaching point B with velocity vB = 15 m/s, then the
work done by friction in J is:

Solution
(a) -380
(b) -875
(c) -1280
(d) -1500
Wnet  E f  Ei  WF  W fk  K f  K i  U f  U i
1
0  W fk  m 2f  0  mgy2  mgy1
2
1
W fk  10  152  100  10  100  30  W f k  1125  1000  3000  875 J
2
Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, Fall 2016
 Test Problem
A skier of mass m = 70 kg starts from point A at height h A = 100 m with
velocity vA = 5 m/s on the track shown in the figure. The skier reaches a
maximum height at point B. Assume that the work done by friction is -10 4 J,
what is the height of point B in m?

(a) 44.1
(b) 58.4
Solution
(c) 72.7 Wnet  E f  Ei
(d) 87.0 W f k  10000 J
1 1
Ei  K i  U i  mi2  mghi   70  52  70  10  100  70875 J
2 2
1
E f  K f  U f  m 2f  mgh f  0  700 hB  700 hB
2
 10000  700 hB  70875
 hB  87 m
Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, Fall 2016
 Test Problem
A 5 kg block compresses a spring with a force constant k = 200 N/m a
distance of 0.2 m. If the block is released from rest, what is the speed (in m/s)
of the block as it leaves the spring ?

a) 0.63 Solution
b) 1.26
c) 1.90 Wnet  E f  Ei
No external forces and friction
d) 2.53 Wnet  0 J  Wnet = 0
e) 3.16 1 1 2 1 1
Ei  K i  U i  mi  kxi  5  0   200  0.2 2  4 J
2

2 2 2 2
1 1 1 1
E f  K f  U f  m 2f  kx 2f  5 2f   200  0 2  2.5 2f
2 2 2 2
0  2.5  2f  4
 f  1.26 m / s
Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, Fall 2016
 Test Problem
A 1 kg mass (m) is held 1 m above a vertical
spring of negligible mass. After dropping the
mass it compressed the spring a maximum
distance x= 0.2 m. The value of the
springconstant k in N/m is:

(a) 2200
(b) 600
Wnet  E f  Ei
(c) 288.9
Wnet  WF  W f k  0  0  0 J
(d) 175 1 1 2
Ei  K i  U i  mi  mghi  kxi  0  mg (h  x)  0  1 10  1.2  12 J
2

2 2
1 1 2 1
E f  K f  U f  m f  mgh f  kx f  0  0   k  0.2 2  0.02 k
2

2 2 2
0  0.02 k  12 k  600 N / m
Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, Fall 2016
 Test Problem

The blocks shown in the figure are released from rest with
the spring unstretched. The pulley and the horizontal surface
are frictionless, the spring constant k = 400 N/m, and the
two blocks have equal masses of m = 6 kg each. After the
system is released, the maximum extension (in m) of the
spring is:
Solution
Wnet  E f  Ei
(a) 0.1 Wnet  WF  W f k  WT  WT  0  0 J
(b) 0.2 1 1 2
Ei  K i  U i  mi  mghi  kxi  0  mg x  0  60 x
2

2 2
(c) 0.3 1 1 2 1
E f  K f  U f  m f  mgh f  kx f  0  0   400  x 2  200 x 2
2
(d) 0.4 2 2 2
0  200 x 2  60 x x  0.3 m
Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, Fall 2016
 Test Problem
A 2 kg mass is placed on a smooth 37 incline at point A, at a distance
d = 2 m above a spring. The block is released from rest, slides down
and compresses the spring a maximum distance x = 0.1 m. What is the
spring constant k in N/m?

(a) 240
(b) 360
(c) 1320
(d) 5040

Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, Fall 2016

 Test Problem
A 1 kg mass is held compressing a spring with k =3200 N/m a distance
x = 0.1 m down a 37 rough incline. After release, the block moves a
maximum distance d = 2.35 m up the incline. The coefficient of kinetic
friction μk between the mass and the incline is:

(a) 0.1
(b) 0.2
(c) 0.3
(d) 0.4
(e) 0.5

Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, Fall 2016

 Test Problem
A 2.0-kg block situated on a rough incline plane is connected to a light spring
with a force constant k = 100 N/m. The block is released from rest when the
spring is unstretched, as shown in the figure. The pulley is frictionless and
has negligible mass. If the block moves a distance d = 20 cm down the
inclined surface before coming to rest, the coefficient of kinetic friction
between the block and the surface k is:

a) 0.38
b) 0.31
c) 0.25
d) 0.19
e) 0.13

Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, Fall 2016

 Test Problem
A 1 kg block starts from rest at point A. It slides down from a height (h = 1 m)
to a point B, and then along a horizontal surface. Finally it collides with a
massless spring at point C. Assume all surfaces are frictionless, find:
1) the velocity vB of the block at point B,
2) the maximum distance the spring is compressed, if the spring constant, k =
100 N/m.

Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, Fall 2016

 Test Problem
A cube of ice with a mass of 500-grams slides from rest at point A down a
smooth hemispherical glass bowel with a radius of curvature R = 50 cm. The
normal force (in N) on the cube as it passes through the lower point B is:

a) 3 Solution
b) 6
c) 9
d) 12
e) 15

Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, Fall 2016

 Test Problem
A block slides on the smooth track shown in the figure. If the radius of
the loop r = 1 m, then the minimum speed in m/s the block should have
at ground level (point A) so that it moves around the loop without
falling off at the top is:

(a) 7.1
(b) 10.0
(c) 12.2
(d) 14.1
(e) 15.8

Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, Fall 2016