2.

Work and
1. गतीचे Energy
नियम
Ø Work Ø Energy Ø Mechanical energy

Ø Law of conservation of energy Ø Free fall

Observe

2.1 Various activities

1. In which of the pictures above has work been done?

Can you tell? 2. From scientific point of view, when do we say that no
work was done?

Generally, any mental or physical activity is referred to as work. When we walk or

run, the energy in our body is used to do the necessary work. We say that a girl who is
studying is working or performing work. But that is mental work.
In physics, we deal with physical work. Work has a special meaning in physics.
‘Work is said to be done when a force applied on an object causes displacement
of the object.’
You have already learnt that the work done by a force acting on an object is the
product of the magnitude of the force and the displacement of the object in the direction of
the force. Thus, Work = force × displacement
Use your brain power !
What are different types of You have learnt how to
Can you recall?
forces and their examples? calculate the work done on an
object when the displacement
Minakshee wants to displace a wooden
is in the direction of the applied
block from point A to point B along the surface
force. But if the displacement
of a table as shown in figure 2.2A. She has used
is not in the direction of the
force F for the purpose. Has all the energy she
applied force, how do we
spent been used to produce acceleration in the
calculate the amount of work
block? Which forces have been overcome using
done?
that energy?
18
 Observe and discuss. B

A B

A C

2.2 Displacement of an object

You must have seen the events depicted in the pictures B and C above. When a child
pulls a toy with the help of a string, the direction of the force is different from that of
displacement. Similarly, when a large vehicle tows a small one, the directions of force and
the displacements are different. In both these cases, the direction of force makes an angle
with the direction of displacement. Let us see how to calculate work done in such cases.
When a child pulls a toy cart, force is applied along the direction of the string while
the cart is pulled along the horizontal surface. In this case, in order to calculate the amount
of work done, we have to convert the applied force into the force acting along the direction
of displacement.
Let F be the applied force and F1 be its component in the direction of displacement.
Let s be the displacement. The amount of work done is given by
W = F1.s ................................. (1)
The force F is applied in the direction of the string i. e. at an angle with the horizontal.
Let q be the angle that the string makes with the horizontal. We can determine the component
F1, of this force F, which acts in the horizontal direction by means of trigonometry.
(see figure2.3)
F
cos q = base / hypotenuse
cos q = F1 / F
F1 = F cos q
Thus, the work done by F1 is
)q W = F cos q s
F1
W = F s cos q
Enter your conclusions about the work
2.3 Force used for the displacement done for the specific values of q in the
following table.
q cos q W = F s cos q Conclusion
00 1 W=Fs
900 0 0
1800 -1 W = -F s
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 Unit of work
Work = Force × Displacement
In SI system, the unit of force is newton (N) and the unit of displacement is metre
(m). Thus, the unit of force is newton-metre. This is called joule.
1 Joule : If a force of 1 newton displaces an object through 1 metre in the direction
of the force, the amount of work done on the object is 1 joule.
\ 1 joule = 1 newton ´ 1 metre
1J=1N ´1m
In CGS system, the unit of force is dyne and that of displacement is centimeter
(cm). Thus, the unit of work done is dyne-centimetre. This is called an erg.
1 erg : If a force of 1 dyne displaces an object through 1 centimetre in the direction
of the force, the amount of work done is 1 erg.
1 erg = 1 dyne ´ 1 cm
Relationship between joule and erg
We know that, 1 newton = 105 dyne and 1 m = 102 cm
Work = force ´ displacement
1 joule = 1 newton ´ 1 m
1 joule = 105 dyne ´ 102 cm
= 107 dyne cm
1 joule = 107 erg
Positive, negative and zero work

Think before you answer Discuss the directions of force and of

displacement in each of the following cases.
1. Pushing a stalled vehicle
2. Catching the ball which your friend has thrown towards you.
3. Tying a stone to one end of a string and swinging it round and round by the other
end of the string.
4. Walking up and down a staircase; climbing a tree.
5. Stopping a moving car by applying brakes.
You will notice that in some of the above examples, the direction of the force and
displacement are the same. In some other cases, these directions are opposite to each
other, while in some cases, they are perpendicular to each other. In these cases, the work
done by the force is as follows.
1. When the force and the displacement are in the same direction (q = 00 ), the work done by
the force is positive.
2. When the force and the displacement are in opposite directions (q = 1800), the work done
by the force is negative.
3. When the applied force does not cause any displacement or when the force and the
displacement are perpendicular to each other (q =900), the work done by the force is zero.
20
 Try this

Take a plastic cup and make a hole in the Figure A Cup

centre of its bottom. Take a long thread, double it
and pass it through the hole. Tie a thick enough
knot at the end so that the knot will not pass
through the hole, taking care that the two loose
thread
ends are below the bottom of the cup. Tie a nut
each to the two ends as shown in figure 2.4. Now
nut
do the following.
As shown in figure ‘A’, put the cup on a table,
Cup
keep one of the nuts in the cup and let the thread
carrying the other nut hang down along the side Figure B
of the table. What happens?
As shown in figure ‘B’, when the cup is thread
sliding along the table, stop it by putting a ruler in
its path. nut
As shown in figure ‘C’, keep the cup at the
centre of the table and leave the two nuts hanging
on opposite sides of the table.
Cup
Figure C
Questions:
1. Figure A - Why does the cup get pulled?
2. Figure B - What is the relation between the
displacement of the cup and the force applied thread
through the ruler?
3. In figure C - Why doesn’t the cup get displaced? nut nut
4. What is the type of work done in figures A, B
and C?
In the three actions above, what is the
relationship between the applied force and the 2.4 Positive, negative and zero work
displacement?

Suppose an artificial satellite is moving around the earth in a circular orbit. As

the gravitational force acting on the satellite (along the radius of the circle) and its
displacement (along the tangent to the circle) are perpendicular to each other, the
work done by the gravitational force is zero

Institutes at work
The National Physical Laboratory, New Delhi, was conceptualized in 1943. It
functions under the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research. Its conducts basic
research in the various branches of physics and helps various industries and institutes
engaged in developmental work. Its main objective is to establish national standards of
various physical quantities.
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 Solved examples
Example 1: Calculate the work done to Example 2 : Pravin has applied a force of
take an object of mass 20 kg to a height of 100 N on an object, at an angle of 600 to
10 m. the horizontal. The object gets displaced in
(g = 9.8 m/s2) the horizontal direction and 400 J work is
done. What is the displacement of the
Given: m = 20 kg; s = 10 m
object?
g = 9.8 m/s 2
(cos 600 = 1 )
\ F = m.g 2
Given :
= 20 ´ (-9.8)
q = 600
(The negative sign is taken because
the displacement is opposite to the direction F = 100 N
of the force.) W = 400 J , s = ?
F = -196 N W = F s Cos q
\W=Fs 400 = 100 ´ s ´ 12
= -196 ´ 10 400 = 1 ´ s
W = -1960 J 100 2
(The negative sign appears because 4´2=s
the direction of force is opposite to the \ s = 8 m
direction of displacement so that the work The object will be displaced through 8 m.
done is negative.)
Energy
Why does it happen?
1. If a pot having a plant is kept in the dark, the plant languishes.
2. On increasing the volume of a music system or TV beyond a limit, the vessels in the
house start vibrating.
3. Collecting sunlight on a paper with the help of a convex lens burns the paper.
The capacity of a body to perform work is called its energy. The units of work and
energy are the same. The unit in SI system is joule while that in cgs system is erg.
You have learnt that energy exists in various forms like mechanical, heat, light, sound,
electro-magnetic, chemical, nuclear and solar. In this chapter, we are going to study two
forms of mechanical energy, namely, potential energy and kinetic energy.
Kinetic energy
What will happen in the following cases?
1. A fast cricket ball strikes the stumps.
2. The striker hits a coin on the carom board.
3. One marble strikes another in a game of marbles.
From the above examples we understand that when a moving object strikes a stationary
object, the stationary object moves. Thus, the moving object has some energy, part or all
of which it shares with the stationary object, thereby setting it in motion. ‘The energy
which an object has because of its motion is called its kinetic energy’. The work done by
a force to displace a stationary object through a distance s is the kinetic energy gained by
the object.
Kinetic energy = work done on the object
\ K.E. = F × s
22
Expression for kinetic energy :
Suppose a stationary object of mass m moves because of an applied force. Let u be its
initial velocity (here u = 0). Let the applied force be F. This generates an acceleration a in
the object, and, after time t, the velocity of the object becomes equal to v. The displacement
during this time is s. The work done on the object, W = F . s
W=F×s
According to Newton’s second law of motion,
F = ma -------- (1) Similarly, using Newton’s second equation of motion
s = ut + 1 at22 However, as initial velocity is zero, u = 0.

s=0+ 1 at2
2
s= 1 at2 ------(2)
2
\ W = ma ´ 1 at2 ------ using equations (1) and (2)
2
W = 12 m(at)2 -------(3)

Using Newton’s first equation of motion ..............

v = u + at
\ v = 0 + at
\ v = at
\ v2 = (at)2 ------(4)
\ W = 1 mv2 ------- using equations (3) and (4)
2
The kinetic energy gained by an object is the amount of work done on the object.
\ K. E. = W
\ K. E. = 12 mv2

Example : A stone having a mass of 250 gm is falling from a height. How much kinetic
energy does it have at the moment when its velocity is 2 m/s?
Given : m = 250 g m = 0.25 kg
v = 2 m/s
K.E . = 12 mv2 = 12 × 0.25 × (2)2 = 0.5 J

The mass of a moving body is doubled, how

Use your brain power !
many times will the kinetic energy increase?
23
Potential energy
1. An arrow is released from a stretched bow.
Try this 2. Water kept at a height flows through a pipe into the tap below.
3. A compressed spring is released.
Which words describe the state of the object in the above examples? Where did the
energy required to cause the motion of objects come from?
If the objects were not brought in those states, would they have moved?
‘The energy stored in an object because of its specific state or position is called
its potential energy.’
1.Hold a chalk at a height of 5 cm from the floor and release it.
2. Now stand up straight and then release the chalk.
3. Is there a difference in the results of the two activities? If so, why?
Expression for potential energy
To carry an object of mass ‘m’ to a height ‘h’ above the earth’s surface, a force equal
to ‘mg’ has to be used against the direction of the gravitational force. The amount of
work done can be calculated as follows.
Work = force x displacement
W = mg × h
\ W = mgh
\ The amount of potential energy stored in the object because of its displacement
P.E. = mgh (W = P.E.)
\ Displacement to height h causes energy equal to mgh to be stored in the object.
Example : 500 kg water is stored in the overhead tank of a 10 m high building. Calculate
the amount of potential energy stored in the water.
Given :
h = 10 m, m = 500 kg g = 9.8 m/s2
\ P.E. = mgh
= 10 × 9.8 ×500
P.E. = 49000 J

Ajay and Atul have been asked to

determine the potential energy of a ball of Atul
mass m kept on a table as shown in the
figure. What answers will they get? Will Ajay h2
they be different? What do you conclude
from this? h1
Potential energy is relative. The
heights of the ball with respect to Ajay
and Atul are different. So the potential
energy with respect to them will be
different.
24
Transformation of energy

Can you tell? Which are the different forms of energy? Which type of
energy is used in each of the following processes?
1. A stretched piece of rubber 2. Fast moving car 3. The whistling of a cooker due to
steam 4. The crackers exploded in Diwali 5. A fan running on electricity 6. Drawing out
pieces of iron from garbage, using a magnet 7. Breaking of a glass window pane because
of a loud noise.
Energy can be transformed from one type to another. For example, the exploding
firecrackers convert the chemical energy stored in them into light, sound and heat energy.

®
Engine/Fan

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Heater
Mechanical
energy ® ell
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Electrical
energy ® Heat energy

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cc

Generator ® Thermo-couple
tri

Lo
ec

ud
-el
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sp
oto

p
® ea
am
ph

® ke
ll /

M r
cl

ic
ce

tri

ro
lar

ph
ec
So

on
El

e Sound
Light
energy energy
Primary cell Secondary cell

Chemical
energy

2.5 Tranformation of energy

Observe the above diagram (figure 2.5) and discuss how tranformation of energy
takes place, giving example of each.
Law of conservation of energy
‘Energy can neither be created nor destroyed. It can be converted from one form
into another. Thus, the total amount of energy in the universe remains constant’.

Make two pendulums of the same length with the help of thread
Try this
and two nuts. Tie another thread in the horizontal position.

Tie the two pendulums to this horizontal thread thread

in such a way that they will not hit each other while
swinging. Now swing one of the pendulums and thread thread
observe. What do you see?
You will see that as the speed of oscillation of the
pendulum slowly decreases, the second pendulum nut nut
which was initially stationary, begins to swing. Thus,
one pendulum transfers its energy to the other.
2.6 Coupled oscillators
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Free fall
If we release an object from a height, it gets pulled towards the earth because of the
gravitational force. An object falling solely under the influence of gravitational force is
said to be in free fall or to be falling freely. Let us look at the kinetic and potential energies
of an object of mass m, falling freely from height h, when the object is at different
heights
As shown in the figure, the point A is at a height h A
from the ground. Let the point B be at a distance x,
vertically below A. Let the point C be on the ground
directly below A and B. Let us calculate the energies of
the object at A, B and C. x
1. When the object is stationary at A, its initial velocity
is u = 0
h
\ K.E. = 1 mass x velocity2 B
2
= 1 mu2
2
K.E. = 0 h-x
P.E. = mgh
\ Total energy = K.E. + P.E.
= 0 + mgh
Total Energy = mgh.--- (1)
C
2. Let the velocity of the object be vB when 2.7 Free fall
it reaches point B, having fallen through a
3. Let the velocity of the object be vC when
distance x.
it reaches the ground, near point C.
u = 0, s = x, a = g
u = 0, s = h, a = g
v = u + 2as
2 2
v2 = u2 + 2as
vB2 = 0 + 2gx vc2 = 0 + 2gh
vB2 = 2gx \ K.E. = 1 mvC2 = 1 m(2gh)
2 2
\ K.E. = 12 mvB2 = 12 m(2gx)
K.E. = mgh
K.E. = mgx The height of the object from the
Height of the object when at B = h-x ground at point C is
\ P.E. = mg (h-x) h=0
P.E. = mgh - mgx \ P.E. = mgh = 0
\ Total Energy T.E. = K.E. + P.E. \ T.E. = K.E. + P.E
= mgx + mgh - mgx T.E. = mgh ------(3)
\ T.E. = mgh -------(2) From equations (1), (2) and (3) we see
that the total energy of the object is the
same at the three points A, B and C.
26
 Thus, every object has potential energy when it is at a height above the ground and it
keeps getting converted to kinetic energy as the object falls towards the ground. On
reaching the ground (point C), all the potential energy gets converted to kinetic energy.
But at any point during the fall the total energy remains constant.
i.e., T.E. = P.E. + K.E.
T.E. at A = mgh + 0 = mgh
T.E. at B = mgx + mg (h - x) = mgh
T.E. at C = 0 + mgh = mgh
Power

Think before you answer 1. Can your father climb stairs as fast as you can?

2. Will you fill the overhead water tank with the help of a bucket or an electric motor?
3. Suppose Rajashree, Yash and Ranjeet have to reach the top of a small hill. Rajashree
went by car, Yash went cycling while Ranjeet went walking. If all of them choose the
same path, who will reach first and who will reach last?
In the above examples, the work done is the same in each example but the time taken
to perform the work is different for each person or each method. The fast or slow rate of
the work done is expressed in terms of power. ‘Power is the rate at which work is done.’
If W amount of work is done in time t then,

Work W An introduction to scientists

Power = P=
Time t
In SI system the unit of work is J, so the unit of
power is
J/s. This is called watt
1 watt = 1 joule / 1 second
In the industrial sector the unit used to measure
power is called ‘horse power.’
1 horse power = 746 watt.
The unit of energy for commercial use is kilo watt The steam engine was
hour. invented in 1781 by the
1000 joule work performed in 1 second is 1 Scottish scientist James
kilowatt power. Watt (1736 – 1819). This
1 kW h = 1 kW ´ 1hr invention brought about an
= 1000 W ´ 3600 s industrial revolution. The
= 3600000 J unit of power is called Watt
in his honour. James Watt
1 kW h = 3.6 ´ 106 J was the first to use the term
Electricity used for domestic purposes is measured
‘horse-power’.
in units of kilowatt hour.
1 kW h = 1 unit
27
 Solved problems
Example 1 : Swaralee takes 20 s to carry
a bag weighing 20 kg to a height of 5 m. Example 2 : A 25 W electric bulb is used
How much power has she used? for 10 hours every day. How much electric-
Given : m = 20 kg, h = 5 m, t = 40 s ity does it consume each day?
\ The force which has to be applied Given :
by Swaralee, P = 25, W = 0.025 kW
F = mg = 20 ´ 9.8 \ Energy consumed = power ´ time
F = 196 N = 0.025 ´ 10
Work done by Swaralee to carry the Energy = 0.25 kW hr
bag to a height of 5 m,
W = F s = 196 ´ 5 = 980 J
Websites for more information :
Work 980 www.physicscatalyst.com
\ power = (P) = t =
40 www.tryscience.org

P = 24.5 W

Exercises

1. Write detailed answers? a. For work to be performed, energy

a. Explain the difference between must be ….
potential energy and kinetic energy. (i) transferred from one place to
b. Derive the formula for the kinetic another (ii) concentrated
energy of an object of mass m, (iii) transformed from one type to
moving with velocity v. another (iv) destroyed
c. Prove that the kinetic energy of a b. Joule is the unit of …
freely falling object on reaching (i) force (ii) work (iii) power
the ground is nothing but the (iv) energy
transformation of its initial potential c. Which of the forces involved in
energy. dragging a heavy object on a
d. Determine the amount of work smooth, horizontal surface, have
done when an object is displaced at the same magnitude?
an angle of 300 with respect to the (i) the horizontal applied force (ii)
direction of the applied force. gravitational force (iii) reaction
e. If an object has 0 momentum, does force in vertical direction (iv) force
it have kinetic energy? Explain your of friction
answer. d. Power is a measure of the ...….
f. Why is the work done on an object (i) the rapidity with which work is
moving with uniform circular done (ii) amount of energy required
motion zero? to perform the work (iii) The
2. Choose one or more correct alterna- slowness with which work is
performed (iv) length of time
tives.
28
 e. While dragging or lifting an object, Questions
negative work is done by 1. At the moment of releasing the
(i) the applied force (ii) gravitational balls, which energy do the balls
force (iii) frictional force have?
(iv) reaction force 2. As the balls roll down which energy
3. Rewrite the following sentences is converted into which other form
using proper alternative. of energy?
a. The potential energy of your body is 3. Why do the balls cover the same
least when you are ….. distance on rolling down?
(i) sitting on a chair (ii) sitting on 4. What is the form of the eventual
the ground (iii) sleeping on the total energy of the balls?
ground (iv) standing on the ground 5. Which law related to energy does
b. The total energy of an object falling the above activity demonstrate ?
freely towards the ground … Explain.
(i) decreases (ii) remains unchanged
5. Solve the following examples.
(iii) increases (iv) increases in the
a. An electric pump has 2 kW power.
beginning and then decreases
How much water will the pump lift
c. If we increase the velocity of a car
every minute to a height of 10 m?
moving on a flat surface to four
(Ans : 1224.5 kg)
times its original speed, its potential
b. If a 1200 W electric iron is used
energy ….
daily for 30 minutes, how much
(i) will be twice its original energy
total electricity is consumed in the
(ii) will not change (iii) will be 4
month of April? (Ans :18 Unit)
times its original energy (iv) will be
c. If the energy of a ball falling from a
16 times its original energy.
d. The work done on an object does height of 10 metres is reduced by
not depend on …. 40%, how high will it rebound?
(i) displacement (ii) applied (Ans : 6 m)
force (iii) initial velocity of the d. The velocity of a car increases from
object (iv) the angle between force 54 km/hr to 72 km/hr. How much is
and displacement. the work done if the mass of the car
4. Study the following activity and is 1500 kg ?
answer the questions. (Ans. : 131250 J)
1. Take two aluminium channels of e. Ravi applied a force of 10 N and
different lengths. moved a book 30 cm in the direction
2. Place the lower ends of the channels of the force. How much was the
on the floor and hold their upper work done by Ravi?
ends at the same height. (Ans: 3 J)
3. Now take two balls of the same size Project :
and weight and release them from Study the various instances of
the top end of the channels. They trasnformation of energy you see
will roll down and cover the same around you and discuss them in
distance. class.

²²²
29