Vesu, Surat

Class-9
Subject- Physics
Prepared by:- Darshil Patel

Page 1 of 8
 10. Work and Energy
Work: Work is a process of transferring energy
to or from an object by applying force.
To understand this, we shall first consider the case when the force is acting in the
direction of displacement. Let a constant force, F, act on an object. Let the direction of the
force as shown in figure. Let W be the work done. We define work to be equal to the product
of the force and displacement in the direction of force.
Work done W = force × displacement = F s …………..(1)
Thus, work done by force acting on an object is equal to the magnitude of the force
multiplied by the displacement in the direction of the force. Work has only magnitude and no
direction. Hence work is a scalar quantity.
In Eq. (1), if F = 1 N and s = 1 m then the work done by the force will be 1 N m. Here the
unit of work is newton metre (N m) or joule (J). Thus, 1 J is the amount of work- done on an
object when a force of 1 N displaces the object by 1 m in direction of the force.
➢ Force and displacement are inclined at an angle less than or equal to 180o,
so the work done is given as:
W= F s cosθ
Sign Conventions for Work Done ( +ve ,-ve and zero work)
➢ Positive Work : when both the force and the displacement are in the same direction,
positive work is done.
𝑊 = 𝐹 𝑠 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 = 𝐹 𝑠 (∵𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 = 𝑐𝑜𝑠0 = 1)
𝑊 = 𝐹 𝑠 (maximum work for given force and displacement)
➢ Negative Work : when force acts in a direction opposite to the
direction of displacement, like frictional force, the work done is
negative. As the Angle between force and displacement is 180o

𝑊 = 𝐹 𝑠 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 = 𝐹 𝑠 cos(180) = 𝐹 𝑠 (-1) = −𝐹 𝑠 (∵ cos 180o = -1)

𝑊 = − 𝐹 𝑠 (maximum negative work for given force and displacement)
➢ Zero work: When the force acting on the object and displacement occurred are mutually
perpendicular. The work done is zero. W=0
𝑊 = 𝐹. 𝑠 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 = 𝐹. 𝑠 cos 90° = 𝐹 𝑠 (0) = 0 (∵ cos 90° = 0)

Page 2 of 8
No work is done when:
➢ Force is applied but no displacement occurs.
➢ An object undergoes a displacement with no applied force acting on it.
➢ The direction of motion is perpendicular to the applied force.

Work done by variable force

Work done by a variable force is
determined by dividing displacement into
small interval. Work is calculated during all
this small displacements. We then find the
sum of all work over total displacement to
get total work done.
E.g.
Work done by a variable force on an object under uniform circular motion.
We can divide circular path into tiny displacements (s1, s2, s3 …)

(1) Work done by force of friction on an object moving on circular path of radius r
As friction is always opposite to every small displacement,
The total work done by force of friction = (−Fr × s1) + (−Fr × s2)+ (−Fr × s3)+………
W = (−Fr) × ( s1 + s2 + s3 …..)
= (−Fr) × (2πr)
(2) Work done by force of gravity moon, moving on circular path of radius r
As force of gravity is always perpendicular to every small displacement,
The total work done by force of gravity = (Fg × s1) + (Fg × s2) + (Fg × s3) +………
W=0 (∵ always Fg ⊥ s)
Energy: The capacity of a body to do work is called the energy of the body.
The object on which the work (positive) is done gains energy and the object which does the
work (negative) loses energy. An object that possesses energy can exert a force on another
object. When this happens, energy is transferred from the former to the latter. The second
object may move as it receives energy and therefore work is done on it. Thus, the first object
had a capacity to do work. This implies that any object that possesses energy can do work.
The energy possessed by an object is thus measured in terms of its capacity of doing work.
The unit of energy is, therefore, the same as that of work, that is, joule (J). 1 kJ = 1000J

Forms of energy: The various forms include heat energy, electrical energy, chemical energy,
light energy and mechanical energy (potential energy + kinetic energy).
Page 3 of 8
Kinetic energy: kinetic energy is the energy possessed by an object by virtue of its motion.
The kinetic energy of an object increases with its speed.
By definition, we say that the kinetic energy of a body moving with a certain velocity is equal
to the work done on it to make it acquire that velocity.
Kinetic energy of body with a certain velocity = work done on it to make it acquire that velocity
Expression of kinetic energy: An object of mass m moving with a uniform velocity u. It is
displaced by displacement s under a constant force F acting in the direction of displacement.
The work done, W = F s _____(1)
The work done by the resultant force on the object will cause a change in its velocity. Let its
velocity change from u to v. Let a be the acceleration produced.
According to third equations of motion,
2 2
𝑣 2 −𝑢2
𝑣 − 𝑢 = 2as ∴s = _____ (2)
2𝑎
Resultant force F = ma _____ (3) (Newton’s second law)
Substituting F and s from equation (2) and (3) in equation (1)
𝑣 2 −𝑢2
W = F s = ma ×
2𝑎
1 1
∴W= m𝑣 2 – m𝑢2 = EKf − EKi = Δ EK = Change in kinetic energy
2 2
1
∴ W = EKf = EK = m𝑣 2 (∵EKi = 0, if initial velocity u = 0 )
2
1
∴The kinetic energy of object having mass m and velocity 𝑣 is = m𝑣 2 = (∵ p = mv)
2
Work done by resultant force on object = Change in its kinetic energy
Work energy theorm: The total work done by the resultant force (sum of all the forces) acting
on an object is equal to the change in the kinetic energy of that object.

Potential Energy:
The energy possessed by a body due to its position or configuration (shape)is called its
potential energy. The energy transferred to an object is stored as potential energy if it is not
used to cause a change in the velocity or speed of the object.
E.g. Water stored in a dam has large amount of potential energy due to its height above the
ground and a stretched rubber band possesses potential energy due to its distorted shape.

Page 4 of 8
Types of Potential Energy
On the basis of position and change in configuration, potential energy is of two type:
1. Gravitational Potential Energy:
It is the energy possessed by a body due to its position above the ground.
2. Elastic Potential Energy:
It is the energy possessed by a body due to its change in shape or configuration
Gravitational Potential Energy (GPE)
When an object is raised through a height, work is said to be done on the object against
gravity. The energy possessed by such an object is called the gravitational potential energy.
GPE = work done against gravity in raising a body to a height from the ground to a point.
Derivation of expression for Gravitational Potential Energy
Force of gravity acting on the object = – mg (downward direction)
If we apply an upward force F equal to the weight of the object,
F = mg
Work done to raise the object at height h, by external upward force
W = mg × h = mgh
As the resultant force is zero, the velocity and kinetic energy of the
object are not changing.
∴ Work done by external force F = Change in Potential Energy
= Final potential energy – Initial potential energy
= EPf – EPi = Δ EP
As potential energy is considered zero at ground level, Initial potential energy EPi = 0
∴ Work done by external force F = Final potential energy EPf
= Potential energy EP at height h = mgh
∴ The potential energy (EP) is equal to the work done over an object of mass ‘m’ to raise it by
a height ‘h’ from the ground ,Thus, EP = mgh, where g = acceleration due to gravity.

Gravitational potential energy is work done against gravity in raising a body to a height
from the ground. Using this fact, alternatively we can also show that,
Force of gravity = –mg (downward direction) & Displacement s = h (upward direction)
Change in Potential Energy = EPf – EPi = Work done against gravity
Δ EP = EPf = – [Work done by gravity] (∵ EPi = 0 for h = 0)
Potential energy EP at height h = EPf = – [(–mg) × h] = mgh

Page 5 of 8
Conservative and non-conservative forces:
If we choose two different paths to reach at height h, as shown in diagram, the work
done by gravity and hence the potential energy will be exactly same.
The work done by force of gravity is independent of the path taken.
Thus force of gravity is called conservative force.
Work done against conservative force results in change in potential energy.

On the other hand, the work done against friction is path dependent. Thus friction is
non-conservative force, and work done against friction result in increase of heat energy.

Law of conservation of energy:

Whenever energy gets transformed, the total energy remains unchanged. This is the law of
conservation of energy. According to this law, energy can only be converted from one form to
another; it can neither be created nor destroyed. The total energy, before and after the
transformation remains the same. The law of conservation of energy is valid in all situations
and for all kinds of transformations.
The sum of kinetic energy and potential energy of an object is called mechanical energy.
Total mechanical Energy, remains conserved if only conservative forces like gravitational force
are acting. During the free fall of the object, the decrease in potential energy, at any point in
its path, appears as an equal amount of increase in kinetic energy. (Here the effect of air
resistance on the motion of the object has been ignored.)

Page 6 of 8
Derivation for law of conservation of mechanical energy:
Potential energy + Kinetic energy = Mechanical energy
A body of mass m is raised to height h, at point A its potential energy
is maximum mgh and kinetic energy is 0 as it is stationary so v = 0.
1
Hence according to formula EK = mv2 , as v = 0 so EK = 0
2
Mechanical energy at A = Potential energy + Kinetic energy
1
= mgh + mv2 = mgh + 0 = mgh ……………(1)
2
At any point B……….
When body falls and reach at B from A, h is decreasing hence potential
energy decreases and v is increasing hence kinetic energy is increasing.
1
So, Ep = mg(h – x) = mgh – mgx and EK = mv2
2
rd
From 3 eq. of motion we have
v2 – u2 = 2gx => v2 = 2gx (∵ u = 0 and displacement = x)
1 1
Hence EK = mv2 = m(2gx) = mgx
2 2
Mechanical energy at B = Potential energy + Kinetic energy
= Ep + EK = mg(h – x) + mgx
= (mgh – mgx) + mgx = mgh ........…… …(2)
At point C (at ground level) h = 0, v will be maximum hence kinetic energy also will be
maximum and potential energy will be zero, Ep = 0 ( ∵h = 0 so mgh = 0)
From 3rd eq. of motion we have
v2 – u2 = 2gh => v2 = 2gh (∵ u = 0 and displacement = h)
1 1
Hence EK = mv2 = m(2gh) = mgh
2 2
Mechanical energy at C = Potential energy + Kinetic energy
= Ep + EK = 0 + mgh = mgh ..........…………(3)
We can say from equations (1),(2) and (3) that....
Under conservative force like force of gravity,
1. Mechanical energy is same at all points so mechanical energy is conserved.
Hence, Mechanical energy = Potential energy + Kinetic energy = constant
1
EM = Ep + EK = mgh + 2 mv2 = Constant ∴ Δ EM =0
2. Change in potential energy = – Change in kinetic energy. This shows the continual
transformation of gravitational potential energy and kinetic energy into one another.
Δ EM = Δ Ep + Δ EK = 0 OR Δ Ep = –Δ EK
Page 7 of 8
POWER (Rate of Doing Work):
Power is defined as the rate of doing work or the rate of transfer of energy.
Power measures the speed of work done, that is, how fast or slow work is done.
If work W is done in time t, then power is given by:
𝑊𝑜𝑟𝑘 𝑊
Power = OR P=
𝑇𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑡
The unit of power is watt [in honour of James Watt (1736 – 1819)] having the symbol W.
1 watt is the power, when work is done at the rate of 1 joule per second.
We can also say that power is 1 W when the rate of consumption of energy is 1 J s–1.
1 watt = 1 joule/second OR 1 W = 1 J s–1
We express larger rates of energy transfer in kilowatts (kW).
1 kilowatt = 1000 watts
1 kW = 1000 W = 1000 J s–1
The power of an agent may vary with time. This means that the agent may be doing
work at different rates at different intervals of time. Therefore the concept of average power
is useful. We obtain average power by dividing the total energy consumed by the total time
taken.

Commercial unit of energy (kWh) :

The unit joule is too small and hence is inconvenient to express large quantities of
energy. So We use a bigger unit of energy called kilowatt hour (kW h).
To define 1kWh, Let us say we have a machine that uses 1000 J of energy every second. If this
machine is used continuously for one hour, it will consume 1 kW h of energy.
Thus, 1 kW h is the energy used in one hour at the rate of 1 kW (or 1000 J s–1).
1 kW h = 1 kW ×1 h
= 1000 W × 3600 s
= 3.6 × 106 J.
The energy used in households, industries and commercial establishments are usually
expressed in kilowatt hour. For example, electrical energy used during a month is expressed in
terms of ‘units’. Here, 1 ‘unit’ means 1 kilowatt hour.

Page 8 of 8