MEC102

Module 5: WORK AND

ENERGY METHOD
Course Outcomes
 CO1. Explain and use the principles governing
motion of particles.
 CO2. Apply the concepts of kinematics of
particles to compute positions, velocities, and
accelerations of rigid bodies.
 CO3: Explain Newton’s second law of motion and
apply its principle to solve problems involving
kinetics of a particle, its energy and
momentum.
 
OBJECTIVES
 At the end of the lesson, you should be able
to:
 solve problems involving work and energy
using the principles of work and energy, and
the law of conservation of energy.
WORK AND ENERGY
 Previously, problems dealing with the motion of
particles were solved through the fundamental
equation of motion, .

 Current topic introduces two additional methods of

analysis.
 Method of work and energy: directly relates
force, mass, velocity and displacement.
 Method of impulse and momentum: directly
relates force, mass, velocity, and time.
WORK AND ENERGY
 Work of a Force

• Differential vector dr is the particle displacement.

• Work of the force is

 
dUFdr

• Work is a scalar quantity, i.e., it has magnitude and

sign but not direction.
Use the parallel component if the force acts at an angle
Work - a force through a distance
Work: Positive, Negative or Zero
1. Steve exerts a steady force of magnitude 210 N on a
stalled car as he pushes it a distance of 18 m. The car also
has a flat tire, so to make the car track straight Steve
must push at an angle of 30° to the direction of motion.
How much work does Steve do?


Identify: Constant force, Work  Setup: (a) eq. w/ angle

(b) scalar product
Target variable: (a)&(b) W

Execute:(a) (b)

Evaluate: Steve does work over 1000 J. 

 2. In a helpful mood, Steve pushes a second
stalled car with a steady force F = (160 N)i -
(40 N)j. The displacement of the car is s =
(14m)i + (11 m)j. How much work does Steve do
in this case?
 Total Work – work done by several forces
3. A farmer hitches her tractor
to a sled loaded with firewood and
pulls it a distance of 20 m along
level ground. The total weight of
sled and load is 14,700 N. The
tractor exerts a constant 5000-N
force at an angle of 36.9° above
the horizontal. There is a 3500-N
friction force opposing the sled's
motion. Find the work done by each
force acting on the sled and the
total work done by all the forces.
Setup:
Total work – work done by several
Execute: method 1
forces
Setup:
Total work – work done by several
Execute: method 2
forces

Evaluate:
We get the same result for Wtot with either
method,
Work and energy with varying forces
Work-Energy Theorem for Straight-Line Motion, Varying Forces
WORK AND ENERGY
 Example:
 An automobile weighing 4000 lb is driven down a 5o
incline at a speed of 60 mi/h when the brakes are
applied causing a constant total breaking force of
1500 lb. Determine the distance traveled by the
automobile as it comes to a stop.
WORK AND ENERGY
 Answer:
 Evaluate the change in kinetic energy.
 Determine the distance required for the work to
equal the kinetic energy change.
 WORK AND ENERGY
 Answer:
 Evaluate the change in kinetic energy.

 mi  5280 ft  h 
v1   60     88 ft s
 h  mi  3600 s  v2  0 T2  0
T1  12 mv12  12 4000 32.2882  481000ft  lb
WORK AND ENERGY
 Answer:
 Determine the distance required for the work to
equal the kinetic energy change.

U12   1500lbx  4000 lbsin 5x

 1151lbx

T1  U12  T2
481000ft  lb  1151lbx  0

x  418 ft
WORK AND ENERGY
 Example:
 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 mk = 0.25
and that the pulley is weightless and frictionless.
WORK AND ENERGY
 Answer:
 Apply the principle of work and energy separately
to blocks A and B.
 When the two relations are combined, the work of
the cable forces cancel. Solve for the velocity.
WORK AND ENERGY
 Answer:
 Apply the principle of work and
energy separately to blocks A and B.

 
W A  200 kg  9.81m s 2  1962 N
FA   k N A   k W A  0.251962 N   490 N
T1  U12  T2 :
0  FC 2 m   FA 2 m   12 m A v 2

FC 2 m   490 N 2 m   12 200 kg v 2

WORK AND ENERGY
 Answer:
 Apply the principle of work and
energy separately to blocks A and B.

 
WB  300 kg  9.81m s 2  2940 N
T1  U12  T2 :
0  Fc 2 m   WB 2 m   12 m B v 2

 Fc 2 m   2940 N 2 m   12 300 kg v 2

WORK AND ENERGY
 Answer:
 When the two relations are combined, the work of
the cable forces cancel. Solve for the velocity.

FC 2 m   490 N 2 m   12 200 kgv 2

 Fc 2 m   2940 N 2 m   12 300 kg v 2

2940 N 2 m   490 N 2 m   12 200 kg  300 kg v 2

4900 J  12 500 kg v 2

v  4.43 m s
Work and energy with varying forces
 Work and energy with varying forces
(Elastic Potential Energy)

Convention when the force is the sane direction with displacement then the work sign is
positive otherwise negative
6.3 Gravitational Potential Energy

Wgravity  mgho  mghf

DEFINITION OF GRAVITATIONAL POTENTIAL ENERGY

The gravitational potential energy PE is the energy that an

object of mass m has by virtue of its position relative to the
surface of the earth. That position is measured by the height
h of the object relative to an arbitrary zero level:

PE  mgh
1 N  m  1 joule J 
 Work and Energy
 the kinetic energy of an object is the energy which it
possesses due to its motion.[1

 Where
 M is the mass in kg
 V is the velocity
 Law of Conservation of Energy
Energy cannot be created nor destroyed but can only be
transformed into another form of energy

Work done by the force = ΔKE +ΔGPE + ΔEPE

Conservative versus
Nonconservative
Conservative- work done is path independent
Nonconservative- work done is path dependent
WORK AND ENERGY
• Work of a constant force in rectilinear motion,
U
1

2F
cos
x 
• Work of the force of gravity,
dUFxdxFydyFzdz
Wdy
y2
U12 Wdy
y1
W y2 y1 Wy

• Work of the weight is equal to product of

weight W and vertical displacement Dy.

• Work of the weight is positive when Dy < 0,

i.e., when the weight moves down.
WORK AND ENERGY

• Work of the force of gravity W,
U1 2  W y1 W y 2

• Work is independent of path followed; depends

only on the initial and final values of Wy.
Vg Wy
 potential energy of the body with respect
to force of gravity.
U
1

2V

gV

g 1 2

• Choice of datum from which the elevation y is

measured is arbitrary.

• Units of work and potential energy are the same:

Vg  W  N 
m y J
WORK AND ENERGY
• Wish to determine velocity of pendulum bob
at A2. Consider work & kinetic energy.

• Force P acts normal to path and does no
work.
T1 U12 T2
1W 2
0Wl v2
2g
v2  2gl
• Velocity found without determining
expression for acceleration and integrating.
• All quantities are scalars and can be added
directly.
• Forces which do no work are eliminated
from the problem. 13 - 34
WORK AND ENERGY
• Principle of work and energy cannot be
applied to directly determine the acceleration
of the pendulum bob.

• Calculating the tension in the cord requires

supplementing the method of work and
energy with an application of Newton’s
second law.
• As the bob passes through A2 ,
Fn man
2
Wv2
PW 
g l
W2gl
PW 3W
v2  2 gl g l

13 - 35
WORK AND POWER
• Power
 rate at which work is done.
 
dU Fdr
 
dt dt
 
Fv

• Dimensions of power are work/time or force*velocity.

Units for power are
Jm ft

lb
1
(watt)
W
1

1N
or
1hp

550

74
W
ss s

•   efficiency
output work

input work
power output

power input
13 - 36
 A woman weighing 600 N steps on a bathroom scale
containing a stiff spring. In equilibrium the spring is
compressed 1.0 cm under her weight. Find the force
constant of the spring and the total work done on it during
the compression.
Setup:

Identify: spring 
Target variable:
spring constant and
total work
Work done on a spring scale
Execute:
Evaluate:
The applied force and
the displacement of
the end of the spring
were in the same
direction, so the work
done must be positive

WORK AND ENERGY
 Example:
 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 deflection of the spring is 40 mm.
 Determine (a) the coefficient of kinetic friction
between the package and surface and (b) the
velocity of the package as it passes again through
the position shown.
WORK AND ENERGY
 Answer:
 Apply the principle of work and energy between
the initial position and the point at which the
spring is fully compressed and the velocity is zero.
The only unknown in the relation is the friction
coefficient.
 Apply the principle of work and energy for the
rebound of the package. The only unknown in the
relation is the velocity at the final position.
WORK AND ENERGY
 Answer:
 Apply the principle of work and energy

T1  12 mv12  12 60 kg2.5 m s 2  187.5 J T2  0

U12  f    kW x

 
   k 60 kg  9.81m s 2 0.640 m   377 J  k
WORK AND ENERGY
 Answer:
 Apply the principle of work and energy
Pmin  kx0  20 kN m 0.120 m   2400 N
Pmax  k x0  x   20 kN m 0.160 m   3200 N
U12 e   12 Pmin  Pmax x
  12 2400 N  3200 N 0.040 m   112 .0 J

U12  U12  f  U12 e  377 J  k  112 J

T1  U12  T2 :
187.5 J - 377 J  k  112 J  0

k  0.20
WORK AND ENERGY
 Answer:
 Apply the principle of work and energy

T2  0 T 3 12 mv32  12 60kgv32

U 23  U 23  f  U 23 e  377 J  k  112 J

 36.5 J

T2  U 23  T3 :
0  36.5 J  12 60 kg v32

v3  1.103m s
WORK AND ENERGY
 Example:
 A 2000 lb car starts from rest at point 1 and
moves without friction down the track shown.
 Determine: (a) the force exerted by the track on
the car at point 2 and the normal force, and (b)
the minimum safe value of the radius of curvature
at point 3.
WORK AND ENERGY
 Answer:
 Apply principle of work and energy to determine
velocity at point 2.
 Apply Newton’s second law to find normal force by
the track at point 2.
 Apply principle of work and energy to determine
velocity at point 3.
 Apply Newton’s second law to find minimum radius
of curvature at point 3 such that a positive normal
force is exerted by the track.
WORK AND ENERGY
SOLUTION:
• Apply principle of work and energy to determine
velocity at point 2.

1mv2 1W2
T
10 T 
2 2 2  v2
2g
U
12
W 40
ft

T
1U1
 2T
2: 0W40 1W
ft v2
2
2g
2
v
240
2 g2
ft 40 32
ft fts2
.2   v
250
.8
fts

• Apply Newton’s second law to find normal force by

the track at point 2.


F
nma
:
n


WN
ma
W2
v
2
W40
2 g
ft
n
g
2 g 20
ft
N
5
W N  10000 lb
WORK AND ENERGY
• Apply principle of work and energy to determine
velocity at point 3.
1W
T
U
11
T
33 0
W 
25
ft 2
v
3
2g
2
v
3
225
g
ft25
2 32
ft .2 v
ft
s 3
40
.
1ft
s

• Apply Newton’s second law to find minimum radius of

curvature at point 3 such that a positive normal force is
exerted by the track.



F
nma
:
n

Wma
n
W2
v W25
2 g
ft
 3  
350
ft
g3 g 3
WORK AND ENERGY
 Exercise:
 Consider a particle of mass 4kg propelled with an
initial velocity of 2m/s up an inclined plane of . If
the coefficient of kinetic friction is 0.4 between
the particle and the incline surface, determine the
distance the block will slide up the incline before
coming to a stop.
 WORK AND ENERGY
• Work of a conservative force,
U
1
2
V
1V
2

• Concept of work and energy,

U
1
2
T
2T
1

• Follows that
T
1V
1T
2V
2
E
T
Vconstant
T
10V
1W • When a particle moves under the action of
T
1V
1W conservative forces, the total mechanical
energy is constant.
1W
T2  12 mv22  2 g  W V2  0 • Friction forces are not conservative. Total
2g
mechanical energy of a system involving
T2  V2  W
friction decreases.
• Mechanical energy is dissipated by friction
into thermal energy. Total energy is constant.
WORK AND ENERGY
 Example:
 A 20 lb collar slides without friction along a
vertical rod as shown. The spring attached to the
collar has an undeflected length of 4 in. and a
constant of 3 lb/in.
 If the collar is released from rest at position 1,
determine its velocity after it has moved 6 in. to
position 2.
WORK AND ENERGY
 Answer:
 Apply the principle of
conservation of energy
between positions 1 and 2.
 The elastic and gravitational
potential energies at 1 and 2
are evaluated from the given
information. The initial
kinetic energy is zero.
 Solve for the kinetic energy
and velocity at 2
WORK AND ENERGY

2
Position 1: V
e1
kx
21
21
2
3lb
in.8in.

4 
in.24
in.

lb
V
1
V
e V
g24
in.

lb
02
ft

lb
T
1
0
2
Position 2: V 2 1
1kx
e 2 2 23lb 
in. 10in.
4 
in.54
in.
lb
V
gW
y206in.
lb  
120
in.
lb
V
2V
eV
g54

120

66in.
lb
5.5ft
lb
2 120
1mv 2 2
T
2 2 2
 v
20
.311
v2
232
.2
Conservation of Energy:
T
1  V1 T2  V
2
2
0
2ft

lb
0.311
v
25
.
5ft

lb
v
24
.
91ft
s

WORK AND ENERGY
 Example:
 The 0.5 lb pellet is pushed against the spring and
released from rest at A. Neglecting friction,
determine the smallest deflection of the spring
for which the pellet will travel around the loop and
remain in contact with the loop at all times..
WORK AND ENERGY
 Answer:
 Since the pellet must remain in contact with the
loop, the force exerted on the pellet must be
greater than or equal to zero. Setting the force
exerted by the loop to zero, solve for the
minimum velocity at D.
 Apply the principle of conservation of energy
between points A and D. Solve for the spring
deflection required to produce the required
velocity and kinetic energy at D.
WORK AND ENERGY
2


F
nma
:
nW
ma
n mg
m
v
Dr
2
v
D 2
rg
 32.2
ft 
ft
s64
.
4 2
ft2
s

• Apply the principle of conservation of energy between

points A and D.
V
V
V

1eg
1
2
kx

0

2 1
2
36
lb
ft
x2 2
18
x
T

10

V2  Ve  Vg  0  Wy  0.5 lb4 ft   2 ft  lb
2
T2  12 mvD 
1 0.5 lb
2 32.2 ft s 2
64.4 ft 2 2

s  0.5 ft  lb

T
1V
1T
2V
2
2
018
x 0
.52 x  0.3727 ft 
13 4
- .55
47 in.
WORK AND ENERGY
 Example:
 The dumbwaiter D and its load have a
combined weight of 600 lb, while the
counterweight C weighs 800 lb.
 Determine the power delivered by the
electric motor M when the dumbwaiter
(a) is moving up at a constant speed of
8 ft/s and (b) has an instantaneous
velocity of 8 ft/s and an acceleration
of 2.5 ft/s2, both directed upwards.
WORK AND ENERGY
 Answer:
 Force exerted by the motor cable has same
direction as the dumbwaiter velocity. Power
delivered by motor is equal to FvD, vD = 8 ft/s.
 In the first case, bodies are in uniform motion.
Determine force exerted by motor cable from
conditions for static equilibrium.
 In the second case, both bodies are accelerating.
Apply Newton’s second law to each body to
determine the required motor cable force.
WORK AND ENERGY
• In the first case, bodies are in uniform motion.
Determine force exerted by motor cable from
conditions for static equilibrium.
Free-body C:

F
y: 2
0 T

800
lb
0
T
40
lb

Free-body D:

F
y:F
0 
T
600
lb

0
F
600
lb

T
600
lb

40
lb

2l

Fv
D200
Power
  8
lb 
ft
s

1600
ft

lbs

Power
 ft
  1
1600
lb
s
hp
2
.
91
hp
550
ft
lb
s
WORK AND ENERGY
• In the second case, both bodies are accelerating. Apply
Newton’s second law to each body to determine the required
motor cable force.
2 1 2
a

2
D.
5
ft
s
a

C
2
a

1
D.
25
ft
s

Free-body C:
800


Fma
y C
C:800

2
T 1
. T
25 
38
.
5l
32
.
2
Free-body D:
600


Fma
y D
D:F
T
600
 2
.
5
32
.2
F
384
.5
600
46
.
6 F
26.
1l
262
Fv

D8
Pow
.
1
lb
ft
s20
ft

lb
s

Power
 ft
  1
2097
lb
s
hp
3
.
81
hp
550
ft
lb
s 13 - 59
WORK AND ENERGY
 Exercise:
 The 60 kg skateboarder in the figure coasts down
the circular track. If he starts from rest when ,
determine the magnitude of the normal reaction
the track exerts on him when .
WORK AND ENERGY
 Exercise:
 Consider a block of mass 4kg propelled with an
initial velocity of 5m/s up an inclined plane of . If
the coefficient of kinetic friction is 0.5 between
the particle and the incline surface, determine the
time it will take for the block to stop. Determine
the KE and the GPE of the block when the block is
half of the distance before coming to a stop.
 A 2 kg box starts from rest and slides 4 m down a
incline, where it strikes a spring with a spring
constant of 500N/m. If the coefficient of kinetic
friction between the box and the incline is 0.6,
determine the maximum compression of the spring.
PREPARATION FOR THE COURSE