OpenStax University Physics Volume I

Unit 1: Mechanics
Chapter 7: Work and Kinetic Energy
University Physics Volume 1
Unit 1: Mechanics
Chapter 7: Work and Kinetic Energy

25. (a) Calculate the work done on a 1500-kg elevator car by its cable to lift it 40.0 m at constant
speed, assuming friction averages 100 N. (b) What is the work done on the elevator car by the
gravitational force in this process? (c) What is the total work done on the elevator car?
Solution
a. 592 kJ; b. –588 kJ ; c. 0 J

33. A 5.0-kg box rests on a horizontal surface. The coefficient of kinetic friction between the box
and surface is µ K = 0.50. A horizontal force pulls the box at constant velocity for 10 cm. Find
the work done by (a) the applied horizontal force, (b) the frictional force, and (c) the net force.
Solution
a. 2.45 J; b. – 2.45 J; c. 0 J

37. How much work is done against the gravitational force on a 5.0-kg briefcase when it is
carried from the ground floor to the roof of the Empire State Building, a vertical climb of 380 m?
Solution
18.6 kJ

51. A car’s bumper is designed to withstand a 4.0-km/h (1.1-m/s) collision with an immovable
object without damage to the body of the car. The bumper cushions the shock by absorbing the
force over a distance. Calculate the magnitude of the average force on a bumper that collapses
0.200 m while bringing a 900-kg car to rest from an initial speed of 1.1 m/s.
Solution
2.72 kN

53. Using energy considerations, calculate the average force a 60.0-kg sprinter exerts backward
on the track to accelerate from 2.00 to 8.00 m/s in a distance of 25.0 m, if he encounters a
headwind that exerts an average force of 30.0 N against him.
Solution
102 N

55. A constant 10-N horizontal force is applied to a 20-kg cart at rest on a level floor. If friction
is negligible, what is the speed of the cart when it has been pushed 8.0 m?
Solution
2.8 m/s

57. Compare the work required to stop a 100-kg crate sliding at 1.0 m/s and an 8.0-g bullet
traveling at 500 m/s.
Solution
W (bullet) = 20 × W (crate)

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OpenStax University Physics Volume I
Unit 1: Mechanics
Chapter 7: Work and Kinetic Energy
59. An 8.0-g bullet with a speed of 800 m/s is shot into a wooden block and penetrates 20 cm
before stopping. What is the average force of the wood on the bullet? Assume the block does not
move.
Solution
12.8 kN

61. When a 3.0-kg block is pushed against a massless spring of force constant constant
4.5 ´103 N/m, the spring is compressed 8.0 cm. The block is released, and it slides 2.0 m (from
the point at which it is released) across a horizontal surface before friction stops it. What is the
coefficient of kinetic friction between the block and the surface?
Solution
0.25

63. A small object is placed at the top of an incline that is essentially frictionless. The object
slides down the incline onto a rough horizontal surface, where it stops in 5.0 s after traveling 60
m. (a) What is the speed of the object at the bottom of the incline and its acceleration along the
horizontal surface? (b) What is the height of the incline?
Solution
a. 24 m/s, – 4.8 m/s2; b. 29.4 m

67. A person in good physical condition can put out 100 W of useful power for several hours at a
stretch, perhaps by pedaling a mechanism that drives an electric generator. Neglecting any
problems of generator efficiency and practical considerations such as resting time: (a) How many
people would it take to run a 4.00-kW electric clothes dryer? (b) How many people would it take
to replace a large electric power plant that generates 800 MW?
Solution
a. 40; b. 8 million

69. A large household air conditioner may consume 15.0 kW of power. What is the cost of
operating this air conditioner 3.00 h per day for 30.0 d if the cost of electricity is $0.110 per
kW × h ?
Solution
$149

73. (a) How long will it take an 850-kg car with a useful power output of 40.0 hp (1 hp equals
746 W) to reach a speed of 15.0 m/s, neglecting friction? (b) How long will this acceleration take
if the car also climbs a 3.00-m high hill in the process?
Solution
a. 3.20 s; b. 4.04 s

83. When jogging at 13 km/h on a level surface, a 70-kg man uses energy at a rate of
approximately 850 W. Using the facts that the “human engine” is approximately 25% efficient,
determine the rate at which this man uses energy when jogging up a 5.0° slope at this same
speed. Assume that the frictional retarding force is the same in both cases.
Solution
1.7 kW

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