Work Power Energy

What is Work?
For work to be done a force must be exerted and there must be motion or displacement in the
direction of the force. The work done by force acting on an object is equal to the magnitude of
the force multiplied by the distance moved in the direction of the force. Work has only
magnitude and no direction. Hence, work is a scalar quantity.

Formula of Work
The work done by a force is defined to be the product of the component of the force in the
direction of the displacement and the magnitude of this displacement.

Where W is the work done, F is the force, d is the displacement, θ is the angle between force and
displacement and F cosθ is the component of force in the direction of displacement.
We understand from the work equation that if there is no displacement, there is no work done,
irrespective of how large the force is. To summarize, we can say that no work is done if:

 The displacement is zero

 The force is zero
 The force and displacement are mutually perpendicular to each other.

Unit of Work

The SI unit of work is Joule (J). For example, if a force of 5 newtons is applied to an object and
moves 2 meters, the work done will be 10 newton-meter or 10 Joule. It should be noted that 1 J =
1 N ⋅ m = 1 kg ⋅ m2/s2.

Example of Work

An object is horizontally dragged across the surface by a 100 N force acting parallel to the
surface. Find out the amount of work done by the force in moving the object through a distance
of 8 m.

Solution:

Given:
F = 100 N, d = 8 m

Since F and d are in the same direction, θ = 0, [θ is the angle of the force to the direction of
movement], therefore

W = FdCos θ

W = 100 x 8 x Cos 0

W = 800 J [Since Cos 0 = 1]

What is Energy?

Energy is the ability to perform work. Energy can neither be created nor destroyed, and it can
only be transformed from one form to another. The unit of Energy is the same as of Work, i.e.
Joules. Energy is found in many things, and thus there are different types of energy.

All forms of energy are either kinetic or potential. The energy in motion is known as Kinetic
Energy, whereas Potential Energy is the energy stored in an object and is measured by the
amount of work done.

Units of Energy
The International System of Units of measurement of energy is joule. The unit of energy is
named after James Prescott Joule. Joule is a derived unit equal to the energy expended in
applying a force of one newton through a distance of one meter. However, energy is also
expressed in many other units not part of the SI, such as ergs, calories, British Thermal Units,
kilowatt-hours, and kilocalories, which require a conversion factor when expressed in SI units.

Different Types of Energy

Although there are many forms of energy, it is broadly categorized into:

1. Kinetic Energy
2. Potential Energy
Kinetic Energy
Kinetic energy is the energy associated with the object’s motion. Objects in motion are capable
of causing a change or are capable of doing work. To better understand, let us think of a
wrecking ball. A wrecking ball in motion is used to do work such as the demolition of buildings,
stones, etc. Even a slow-moving wrecking ball is capable of causing a lot of damage to another
object, such as an empty house. However, a wrecking ball that is not in motion does not do any
work.
Another example of kinetic energy is the energy associated with the constant, random bouncing
of atoms or molecules. This is also known as thermal energy. The average thermal energy of a
group of molecules is what we call temperature, and when thermal energy is transferred between
two objects, it’s known as heat.
Kinetic energy is determined by the given formula

Different Types of Kinetic Energy:

Radiant energy

Radiant energy is the type of energy that travels by waves or particles. This energy is created
through electromagnetic waves and is most commonly experienced by humans in the form of
heat. Following are a few examples of radiant energy: When you turn on an incandescent light
bulb, it gives off two forms of energy. There is visible light and heat that is generated. Both these
generated energies are a form of radiant energy. Sunlight is an example of radiant energy.

Thermal Energy
Thermal energy is similar to radiant energy and is experienced in the form of heat or warmth.
While radiant energy refers to waves or particles, thermal energy describes the activity level
among the atoms and molecules in an object. This is the only difference between radiant energy
and thermal energy. Some examples of thermal energy include:

 The geothermal energy that comes from the decay of natural minerals and the volcanic
action of the earth is an example of thermal energy.
 When you heat up the pizza in the oven, you raise the pizza’s temperature. The molecules
that make up the pizza move more quickly when the pizza is piping hot.
 The warmth you feel emanating from the engine is an example of thermal energy.

Sound Energy
Humans experience the vibrations that reach the human ear as sound. The disturbance moves in
the form of waves through a medium like air and reaches our eardrum. On reaching the eardrum,
these vibrations are converted into electrical signals and sent to the brain, which we interpret as
the sensation of sound.
Electrical Energy
The flow of negatively charged electrons around a circuit results in electricity which we more
commonly refer to as electrical energy.

Mechanical Energy
Mechanical energy is the energy associated with the mechanical movement of objects. This type
of energy can also be referred to as motion energy.

Potential Energy
Potential energy is the energy stored in an object or system of objects. Potential energy can
transform into a more obvious form of kinetic energy.
Potential energy is determined by the given formula

Both potential energy and kinetic energy form mechanical energy.

Mechanical energy is determined by the following formula

Different Types of Potential Energy

Gravitational Potential Energy

Gravitational potential energy is the energy stored in an object due to its vertical position or
height. A book on a high bookshelf has a higher gravitational potential energy than a book on the
bottom bookshelf.
Gravitational Potential Energy Examples

 River water at the top of a waterfall

 A book on a table before it falls
 A car that is parked at the top of a hill

Elastic Potential Energy

Elastic potential energy is stored as a result of applying a force to deform an elastic object. The
energy is stored until the force is removed and the object springs back to its original shape, doing
work in the process. The deformation could involve compressing, stretching or twisting the
object.
Elastic Potential Energy Examples
A spring that is coiled
The string of an archer’s bow is pulled back
Rubber band that has been stretched

Chemical Potential Energy

Chemical potential energy is the energy stored in the chemical bonds of the substance. The
energy can be absorbed and released due to a change in the particle number of the given species.

Chemical Potential Energy Examples

Before the sun shines on the green leaves (potential photosynthesis)
Gasoline before it is ignited
Fireworks before they are launched

Electric Potential Energy

Electric potential energy is the energy that is needed to move a charge against an electric field.
Electric Potential Energy Examples
An incandescent light bulb that is turned off
A radio tower that is not working
A black-light turned off
A television before it is turned on

Energy Conversion: Transfer and Transform

We know energy can be transferred from one form to another. The movement of energy from
one location to another is known as energy transfer. We notice various energy transformations
happening around us.

Following are the four ways through which energy can be transferred:

Mechanically – By the action of force

Electrically – Electrically
By Radiation – By Light waves or Sound waves
By Heating – By conduction, convection, or radiation

The process which results in the energy changing from one form to another is known as energy
transformation. While energy can be transformed or transferred, the total amount of energy does
not change -– this is called energy conservation.
Law of Conservation of Energy

The law of conservation of energy states that energy can neither be created nor be destroyed.
Although, it may be transformed from one form to another. If you take all forms of energy into
account, the total energy of an isolated system always remains constant. All the forms of
energy follow the law of conservation of energy. In brief, the law of conservation of energy
states that
In a closed system, i.e., a system that is isolated from its surroundings, the total energy of the
system is conserved.

So in an isolated system such as the universe, if there is a loss of energy in some part of it, there
must be a gain of an equal amount of energy in some other part of the universe. Although this
principle cannot be proved, there is no known example of a violation of the principle of
conservation of energy.
The amount of energy in any system is determined by the following equation:
UT = Ui + W + Q

 UT is the total energy of a system

 Ui is the initial energy of a system
 Q is the heat added or removed from the system
 W is the work done by or on the system
The change in the internal energy of the system is determined using the equation
ΔU = W + Q

Law of Conservation of Energy Examples:

In Physics, most of the inventions rely on the fact that energy is conserved when it is transferred
from one form to another. A number of electrical and mechanical devices operate solely on the
law of conservation of energy. We will discuss a few examples here.

 In a torch, the chemical energy of the batteries is converted into electrical energy, which
is converted into light and heat energy.
 In hydroelectric power plants, waterfalls on the turbines from a height. This, in turn,
rotates the turbines and generates electricity. Hence, the potential energy of water is
converted into the kinetic energy of the turbine, which is further converted into electrical
energy.
 In a loudspeaker, electrical energy is converted into sound energy.
 In a microphone, sound energy is converted into electrical energy.
  In a generator, mechanical energy is converted into electrical energy.
 When fuels are burnt, chemical energy is converted into heat and light energy.
 Chemical energy from food is converted to thermal energy when it is broken down in the
body and is used to keep it warm.

Different Types of Energy Resources:

Energy sources are used as fuels. Fuels are used in machinery, automobiles, and other industries.
They are used in thermal plants to generate electricity. Energy resources can be classified into
two types – Non-renewable and Renewable.
Non-renewable Resources:
Fossil fuels like oil, natural gas and coal are known as non-renewable resources, because once
used, they cannot be renewed by natural process or means.
Renewable Resources:
Natural resources like wind, water, solar, and geothermal are called renewable resources as they
come from sources that regenerate them back after consumption and are continuously available
in nature.
Types of energy based on their resources are :

 Bio-energy
 Coal
 Geothermal
 Hydrogen
 Hydro-power
 Natural Gas
 Nuclear
 Oil
 Solar
 Wind
 Wood

What is Power?
Power is a physical concept with several different meanings, depending on the context and the
available information. We can define power as the rate of doing work, and it is the amount of
energy consumed per unit of time.
Formula of Power
As discussed, power is the rate of doing work. Therefore, it can be calculated by dividing work
done by time. The formula for power is given below.

Where, P is the power, W is the work done and t is the time taken.

Unit of Power
As power doesn’t have any direction, it is a scalar quantity. The SI unit of power is Joules per
Second (J/s), which is termed as Watt. Watt can be defined as the power needed to do one joule
of work in one second. The unit Watt is dedicated in honor of Sir James Watt, the developer of
the steam engine.

Example of Power
A garage hoist lifts a truck up 2 meters above the ground in 15 seconds. Find the power delivered
to the truck. [Given: 1000 kg as the mass of the truck]
First we need to calculate the work done, which requires the force necessary to lift the truck
against gravity:
F = mg = 1000 x 9.81 = 9810 N.
W = Fd = 9810N x 2m = 19620 Nm = 19620 J.
The power is P = W/t = 19620J / 15s = 1308 J/s = 1308 W.