WORK, POWER AND

ENERGY
PRESENTED BY: MR. MARK OFORI NKETIA
WORK
Let us suppose that a constant force F acting on an object results in displacement d i.e. moves it
by a distance d along a straight line on a horizontal surface, as shown in below. The work done
by a force is the product of the magnitude of force component in the direction of displacement
and the displacement of this object. The unit of work is joule. One joule is defined, as the work
done by a force of one newton when it produces a displacement of one metre.
If force F is acting at angle θ with respect to the displacement d of the object, its
component along d will be F cos θ. Then work done by force F is given by
W = F cosθ.d
In vector form, the work done is given by:
W = F. d
Note that if d = 0, W = 0. That is, no work is done by a force, whatever its
magnitude, if there is no displacement of the object. Also note that though both
force and displacement are vectors, work is a scalar.
Dimensional formula of work
W = Force × Distance
= Mass × Acceleration × distance
Dimension of work = [M] × [LT–²] × [L]
= [ML²T–2]
Example
A force of 6 N is applied on an object at an angle of 60º with the
horizontal. Calculate the work done in moving the object by 2m in the horizontal
direction.
Solution:
we know that
W = Fd cosθ
= 6×2 × cos 60º
= 6×2 × (½)
=6J
Example 2:
A person lifts 5 kg potatoes from the ground floor to a height of 4m to bring it to first floor. Calculate the
work done.
Solution:
Since the potatoes are lifted, work is being done against gravity.
Therefore, we can write
Force = -mg
= 5 kg× 9.8 m s–²
= 49 N
Work done = 49 × 4 (N m)
= -196 J
Positive and Negative Work Done
Positive work follows when the force has a component parallel to the displacement. Positive
work adds energy to a system. Negative work follows when the force has a component opposite
or against the displacement.

❖When we press the accelerator of the car, the force is in the direction of motion of the car. As a
result, we increase the speed of the car. The work done is positive.
❖When we apply brakes of a car, the force is applied in a direction opposite to its motion. The
car loses speed and may finally come to rest. Negative work is said to have been done.
❖In case the applied force and displacement are as right angles, i.e. θ = 90º, no work is said to be
done.
 Work Done by the Force of Gravity
Negative work done Positive work done

Objective is lifted up. Objective moves down.

The force moves opposite The force moves in the
to gravitational force direction of gravitational force

W = Fd cos 0º
W = Fd cos 0º = + mgh
= - mgh
Question
A force F = (5ˆi +3 ˆj ) acts on a particle to give a displacement d = (3ˆi + 4 ˆj )m
(a) Calculate the magnitude of displacement
(b) Calculate the magnitude of force.
(c) How much work is done by the force?
Work Done by a Spring

A spring-mass system whose one end is rigidly fixed and mass m, rests on a
smooth horizontal surface.
(a) The relaxed position of the spring’s, free end at x = 0;
(b) The spring is compressed by applying external force F and
(c) Pulled or elongated
by an external force F. The maximum compression/ elongation is xm.
According to Hooke’s law (true for small x only), |Fs | = kx, where k is known as spring constant.
Since the direction of Fs is always opposite to compression (or extension), it is written as : F = Fs
= – kx
“the work done by the external force is positive but the work done by the spring force is
negative and its magnitude is (½) Kx2
Graphical Presentation of Work done by a Spring
 Example:
A mass of 2 kg is attached to a light spring of force constant
k =100 Nm–1. Calculate the work done by an external force in stretching the spring by 10 cm.

Solution:
POWER
Definintion: The rate at which work is done is called power.
The unit of power is joule/ second = watt
If ΔW work is done in time Δt, the average power is defined as
Average Power = Work done
time taken
The dimensions of power
P = Work
Time
ENERGY
As you know, the capacity to do work is called energy. If a system (object) has energy, it has
ability to do work. An automobile moving on a road uses chemical energy of fuel (CNG, petrol,
diesel). It can push an object which comes on its way to some distance. Thus it can do work. All
moving objects possess energy because they can do work before they come to rest. We call this
kind of energy as kinetic energy.
Kinetic energy is the energy of an object because of its motion
Let us consider an object of mass m moving along a straight line when a constant force of
magnitude F acts on it along the direction of motion. This force produces a uniform acceleration
a such that
F = ma.
Let v1 be the speed of the object at time t 1 . This speed becomes v2 at another instant of time t 2
. During this interval of time t = (t 2 – t 1 ), the object covers a distance, s. Using Equations of
Motion, we can write
POTENTIAL ENERGY
Objects possess another kind of energy due to their position in space. This energy is known as

Potential Energy. Familiar example is the Gravitational Potential Energy possessed by a body in

Gravitational Field.
Potential Energy in Gravitational Field
W = force × distance = mgh

The work is positive and is stored in mass (m) as energy. This energy by virtue of the position in
space is called gravitational potential energy. It has capacity to do work. If this mass is left free,
it will fall down and during the fall it can be made to do work. For example, it can lift another
mass if properly connected by a string, which is passing over a pulley.
 Example:
A truck is loaded with sugar bags. The total mass of the load and the truck together is 100,000 kg.

The truck moves on a winding path up a mountain to a height of 700 m in 1 hour. What average

power must the engine produce to lift the material?

Question:
Hydroelectric power generation uses falling water as a source of energy to turn turbine blades
and generate electrical power. In a power station, 1000 × 10³ kg water falls through a height of
51 m in one second.
(i) Calculate the work done by the falling water?
(ii) How much power can be generated under ideal conditions?
Example
A body of mass 10 kg is initially moving with a speed of 4.0
m s–1. A force of 30 N is now applied on the body for 2 seconds.
(i) What is the final speed of the body after 2 seconds?
(ii) How much work has been done during this period?
(iii) What is the initial kinetic energy?
(iv) What is the final kinetic energy?
(v) What is the distance covered during this period?
(vi) Show that the work done is equal to the change in kinetic energy?
Solution
 Recap

❖Work done by a constant force F is

W = F.d = Fd cosθ
Where θ is the angle between F and d. The unit of work is joule. Work is a scalar quantity.
❖Mechanical energy of a system exists in two forms (i) kinetic energy and (ii) Potential energy.
❖The Work-Energy Theorem states that the work done by all forces is equal to the change in the kinetic
energy of the object. W = Kf – Ki = ΔK
❖Work done by a conservative force on a particle is equal to the change in mechanical energy of the
particle, that is change in the kinetic energy + the change in potential energy. In other words the
mechanical energy is conserved under conservative forces.
❖Energy may be transformed from one kind to another in an isolated system, but it can neither be created
nor destroyed. The total energy always remains constant.