Work, Energy and Power

P.J. Banda

Mulungushi University

November 9, 2022
Outline

Work-Definition
Energy
Definition
Kinetic Energy & work energy theorem
Gravitational Potential Energy
Elastic Potential Energy
Law of Conservation of Energy
Power-Definition
Efficiency

P.J. Banda Work, Energy and Power

WORK

Definition
Work is the product of force and the displacement.
~ .~d
W =F
~ is the force, and ~d is the displacement. Unit: J
where F

It is a scalar quantity.
Consider a box lying on a level surface and being dragged by a
~ which makes an angle θ with the horizontal
force F

P.J. Banda Work, Energy and Power

 ~ cos(θ).∆x
The work done W = Fx .∆x = W = F
If θ = 0 the applied force is parallel to the applied force.
If θ = 90 the applied force is perpendicular to the
displacement ∆x and so the work done is zero.

P.J. Banda Work, Energy and Power

Example
A man returning from a successful ice fishing trip pulls a sled
loaded with salmon. The total mass of the sled and salmon is 50.0
kg, and the man exerts a force of magnitude 1.20×102 N on the
sled by pulling on the rope.
a. How much work does he do on the sled if the rope is
horizontal to the ground (θ = 0◦ ) and he pulls the sled 5.00
m?
b. How much work does he do on the sled if θ = 30.0◦ and he
pulls the sled the same distance?
At a coordinate position of 12.4 m, the man lets up on the
applied force. A friction force of 45.0 N between the ice and
the sled brings the sled to rest at a coordinate position of 18.2
m. How much work does friction do on the sled?

P.J. Banda Work, Energy and Power

Energy
Definition
Energy is the capacity for doing work. Unit: Joule

The amount of work done is dependent on the available

energy.
There are many forms of energy but we will focus on Kinetic
and Potential energy in our further discussions.
Kinetic Energy
Definition
The energy an object has due to its motion
1
Ek = mv 2
2
where Ek is the kinetic energy, m is the mass of the object and v is
the velocity/speed of the object.
P.J. Banda Work, Energy and Power
Work-Energy Theorem
From the definition of Work done, we see that W = F ~ .~d and if we
consider a 1-D aspect, we have W = Fx .∆x = max .∆x .
From the equation of motion v 2 = v◦2 + 2ax .∆x , we have
2 2
ax .∆x = v −v2
◦
which we can substitute in the above relation of
work and obtain
!
v 2 − v◦2 1 1
W =m = mv 2 − mv◦2
2 2 2

The above relationship can be expressed as

W = ∆Ek = KE − KE◦

where ∆Ek is the change in kinetic energy, KE is final kinetic

energy and KEi is initial Kinetic Energy. The above expression is
the work-energy theorem which reads as ’work done is equal to
change in kinetic energy’
P.J. Banda Work, Energy and Power
Example
The driver of a 1.00 ×103 kg car traveling on the interstate at 35.0
m/s slams on his brakes to avoid hitting a second vehicle in front
of him, which had come to rest because of congestion ahead. After
the brakes are applied, a constant kinetic friction force of
magnitude 8.00 ×103 N acts on the car. Ignore air resistance.
a. At what minimum distance should the brakes be applied to
avoid a collision with the other vehicle?
b. If the distance between the vehicles is initially only 30.0 m, at
what speed would the collision occur?

P.J. Banda Work, Energy and Power

Conservative and non-conservative Forces

Definition
A force is conservative if the work it does moving an object
between two points is the same no matter what path is taken. e.g
Gravitational force

Definition
A non-conservative force is one for which work depends on the
path taken. e.g friction force.
The work energy theorem can therefore be restated as follows

Wnc + Wc = ∆KE

where Wnc is the work done by non-conservative forces and Wc is

work done by conservative forces.

P.J. Banda Work, Energy and Power

Potential Energy
3 forms of Potential Energy exists.
1. Gravitational Potential Energy
2. Elastic Potential Energy
3. Chemical Potential Energy
Gravitational Potential energy PEg
It is a conservative force and it depends on the position y .

PEg = mgy

where m is the mass, g is the acceleration y is the position

above the ground. The surface of the earth is usually taken as
y =0
The work done by gravitational force is equal to the negative
change in the gravitational Potential Energy.

Wg = −(PEf − PEi ) = −mg(y − y◦ )

P.J. Banda Work, Energy and Power

Example
A 60.0-kg skier is at the top of a slope. At the initial point A, she
is 10.0 m vertically above point B.
a. Setting the zero level for gravitational potential energy at B,
find the gravitational potential energy of this system when the
skier is at A and then at B. Finally, find the change in
potential energy of the skier-Earth system as the skier goes
from point A to point B.
b. Repeat this problem with the zero level at point A.

P.J. Banda Work, Energy and Power

Law Of Conservation of Energy
Definition
It states that the total energy of an isolated system remains a
constant.
If we consider an object raised to a vertical position y above the
ground, and is allowed to fall freely, the law of conservation of
energy can be expressed as
E = PEg + KE = Constant
where E is the total energy of the Isolated system, PEg is the
gravitational potential energy and KE is the kinetic energy.
Example
A diver of mass m drops from a board 10.0 m above the water’s
surface. Neglect air resistance.
a. Use conservation of mechanical energy to find his speed 5.00
m above the water’s surface. [b.] Find his speed as he hits the
water. P.J. Banda Work, Energy and Power
Example
A skier starts from rest at the top of a frictionless incline of height
20.0 m. At the bottom of the incline, the skier encounters a
horizontal surface where the coefficient of kinetic friction between
skis and snow is 0.210.
a. Find the skier’s speed at the bottom.
b. How far does the skier travel on the horizontal surface before
coming to rest? Neglect air resistance.
Elastic Potential Energy
It is also known as strain energy. It is the energy stored by a
strained elastic material that obey Hook’s law.
The PEe is given by the relationship
1
PEe = kx 2
2
where PEe is the elastic potential energy, k is the spring
constant or force constant and x is the distance a spring or an
elastic object is stretched.
P.J. Banda Work, Energy and Power
Example
A block with mass of 5.00 kg is attached to a horizontal spring
with spring constant k = 4.00 ×102 N/m. The surface the block
rests upon is frictionless. If the block is pulled out to xi = 0.0500
m and released,
a. find the speed of the block when it first reaches the
equilibrium point,
b. find the speed when x = 0.025 0 m,
c. repeat part (a) if friction acts on the block, with coefficient
µk = 0.150.
POWER
Definition
w E
Power is the rate at which work is done. P = ∆t = ∆t .

Average power is work done over an extended period of time.

The work done depends on the energy used up.
P.J. Banda Work, Energy and Power
 Since W = F ~ .~d or simply W = F .∆x , we see that the
equation for work becomes
∆x
P = F. = F .v
∆t
where F is the force and v is the velocity of the object.

Example
A 1.00 ×103 -kg elevator car carries a maximum load of 8.00×102
kg. A constant frictional force of 4.00×103 N retards its motion
upward. What minimum power, in kilowatts and in horsepower,
must the motor deliver to lift the fully loaded elevator car at a
constant speed of 3.00 m/s?

P.J. Banda Work, Energy and Power

Efficiency

Definition
Is the ratio of the useful work done to the total work done raised
to a percentage
Useful Workdone
Efficiency = × 100%
Actual workdone

P.J. Banda Work, Energy and Power