PHY

 121  

PHY121
Work by Variable Forces

Work
by a Constant Force
 In a prior lecture we defined work for the case of
constant forces. In this case, the work is just the
dot product of the force times the displacement.
 But we already knew how to solve constant-force
problems, so the introduction of work, kinetic
energy and their relationship was not of much
help when it came to solving problems.
 Today we will try to extend the definition of work
to variable forces, for which we cannot solve
motion problems using the generic equations of
motion for constant acceleration.

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PHY  121  

Work
by a variable force
 
For a constant force: W = F ⋅ Δr
 This definition doesn’t work for variable forces
because the force may be different at each point
of the trajectory, so we don’t know which value to
use.
 Also, you can go from an initial point to a final
point following different paths. They all have the
same displacement, but is the work the same for
all of them?
 We will next discuss in detail how we can define
the work done by an arbitrarily changing force
along an arbitrarily complicated path.

Path Coordinate
The path coordinate is a curved line that
follows the particle’s trajectory. At each
point of the path, we can define an r-t-z
coordinate system. (But we will use the
symbol “s” for the tangential axis).

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PHY  121  

Path Coordinate
Example
By definition of
ẑ  trajectory, the velocity
Unit vectors
ŝ v vector is always
tangent to the line.
r̂
 s
v = vsŝ
0 
Speed
v = vs We used “s” as generic for x,
y, z. Now the symbol is doing
“double duty” as the path
coordinate.

Path Velocity
s ( t + Δt ) − s ( t ) Δs 
ŝ v = vsŝ

Δr
 s
r (t ) 
r ( t + Δt )
0   
 dr Δr Δr Δs
v= = lim = lim
y dt Δt→0 Δt Δt→0 Δt Δs

Δr Δs ds
= lim lim = ŝ
z Δt→0 Δs Δt→0 Δt dt
x
ds
⇒ vs =
dt

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PHY  121  

Path Dynamics
 ŝ ds This we just
a vs = proved
dt
 s
F
mas = ( Fnet )s
0 Newton’s 2nd
dv
m s = ( Fnet )s
Def. of
dt
dv ds
m s ds = m dvs = mvs dvs = ( Fnet )s ds
acceleration

dt dt
Mult. times ds

Final integration
 ŝ
a
 s
F
0 mvs dvs = ( Fnet )s ds
vfs sf vfs sf

∫ mv dv = ∫ ( F ) ds ⇒ m ∫ v dv = ∫ ( F ) ds
vis
s s
si
net s
vis
s s
si
net s

⎛ vfs2 vis2 ⎞ sf
⇒ m ⎜ − ⎟ = ∫ ( Fnet )s ds
⎝ 2 2 ⎠ si

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Work-Kinetic Energy
Theorem
ŝ 

a v = vs
 s
F
⎛ v 2
v 2
⎞ sf

⎜ 2 2 ⎟ ∫ ( net )s ds
0m fs − is = F
⎝ ⎠ si
sf
1
2
mv − mv = K f − K i = ΔK = ∫ ( Fnet )s ds
2
f
1
2
2
i
si

Work
Using Dot Product 
ŝ dr
θ

F


sf sf rf
 
Wnet = ∫ ( Fnet )s ds = ∫ Fnet cosθ ds = ∫ Fnet ⋅ ŝ ds

si si ri

rf
  
Because
Wnet = ∫ Fnet ⋅ d r dr = ds ŝ

ri

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PHY  121  

Work
Rigorous definition

The work done by any force F is defined as

rf
 
W = ∫ F ⋅dr

ri

The integral is along the

actual path of the
particle, which is
determined not only by
this force!

Sanity Check
Constant force
The work done by a constant force is:
 
rf rf
        
W = ∫ F ⋅ d r = F ⋅ ∫ d r = F ⋅ ( rf − ri ) = F ⋅ Δr
 
ri ri

Take out of the integral

because it is constant Same expression we
used earlier!

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PHY  121  

Net Work Splitting


rf
  These are all the
Wnet = ∫ Fnet ⋅ d r forces that appear
 in the free-body
ri diagram

rf
  
( ) 
= ∫ F1 + F2 + F3 + ... ⋅ d r

Same integration
path in all integrals
ri
  
rf
  rf   rf  
= ∫ F1 ⋅ d r + ∫ F2 ⋅ d r + ∫ F3 ⋅ d r + ...
  
ri ri ri

= W1 + W2 + W3

Zero Work Forces

 If the force is always perpendicular to the
trajectory, the work it does is zero.
 Examples include: radial forces in circular
motion, the normal force when the floor
doesn’t move.
 If the zero-force work is variable, the problem
cannot be solved using the generic equations
for constant acceleration, but it may be easily
solvable using the work/kinetic energy
theorem.

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PHY  121  

Pendulum
Before After


T
  
Fnet Fnet T

FG 
Net force changes as bob
moves, so generic FG
equations for constant
acceleration cannot be used

Pendulum Problem
A pendulum bob attached to a string
of length L = 1.00 m is released from
rest when it makes an angle of 45°
with the vertical line. What is its speed
when it reaches the lowest point?

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Pendulum Works
K f − K i = Wnet = Wgravity + Wtension
 
 Wgravity = FG ⋅ Δr
T  
 Wtension = ∫ T ⋅ d r = 0
Fnet
 These two vectors are always perpendicular!
ds
 
FG K f − K i = Wgravity = FG ⋅ Δr
This can be solved like the constant
force problems we solved previously!

Gravity Work
y
 
Wgravity = FG ⋅ Δr = ( FG ) y Δy

L
45° = ( −mg ) ( yf − yi )
= ( −mg ) ⎡⎣0 − L 1− ( 2
2 )⎤⎦
( )
L(1-√2/2)
= mgL 1− 2
2
0

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Getting the Speed

y
K i + Wgravity = K f

L
0 + mgL 1− ( 2
2 )= 1
2
mvf2

L(1-√2/2)

0 ⇒ vf = gL 2 − 2 ( )
= 2.4 m/s

Spring Force
 
Fsp = 0 Fsp

s s
0 se 0 se
 
Fsp Fsp

s s
0 se 0 se

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PHY  121  

Hooke’s Law
(Fsp)s
( F ) = −k ( s − s ) = −kΔs
sp s e
se
Slope is -k
This is the spring
constant

In many cases
(but not always),
the coordinate
axis is chosen so
that se = 0

Work done by Fsp

(Fsp)s sf

Wsp = ∫ Fsp ds
si
( ) s

sf

si = −k ∫ ( s − se ) ds
sf s si
sf −se

= −k ∫
si −se
u du

1 1 1 1
k ( si − se ) − k ( sf − se ) = kΔsi2 − kΔsf2
2 2
=
2 2 2 2

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Wsp as an Area
(Fsp)s
Δsf
Δsi
si sf s

kΔsf
se
1 1
Wsp = kΔsi2 − kΔsf2
2 2

Example
A mass m = 0.5 kg sits on a
frictionless table and is attached to a
spring of constant k = 100 N/m. If the
mass is released from rest when the
spring is stretched by 0.20 m, what is
the mass’ speed when it reaches the
spring’s equilibrium position?

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PHY  121  

Pictorial Representation

Before Fnet After
 
Fsp   Fsp = 0
Fsp n
x

FG
0=xe x0 0
m = 0.5 kg  x1 = 0 m
x1
x0 = 0.20 m Δr
v0 = 0 m/s
Find
v1
Wnormal = 0
Wgravity = 0
Wspring > 0 Wnet = Wnormal +Wgravity +Wspring > 0

Work-K Theorem
Before

Find
m = 0.5 kg
v1
x0 = 0.20 m
x1 = 0 m
v0 = 0 m/s

K i + Wsp = K f
1 1 1
0 + kΔsi2 − kΔsf2 = mvf2
2 2 2
1 1 1 1 1
0 + kx02 − kx12 = mv12 ⇒ kx02 = mv12
2 2 2 2 2

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PHY  121  

Solve
Before

Find
m = 0.5 kg
v1
x0 = 0.20 m
x1 = 0 m
v0 = 0 m/s

100 N/m × ( 0.20 m )

2
kx02
v1 = = = 2.8 m/s
m 0.5 kg

Summary
 We have generalizing the definition of work to the
case of variable forces.
 With our generalized definition, the relationship
between work and kinetic energy remains valid, and it
is called the work-kinetic energy theorem.
 The work-kinetic energy theory is a great tool to take
on motion problems in which the net force is not
constant. These are problems that cannot be solved
using Newton’s laws combined with the generic
equations for constant acceleration.

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