CE-117: Engineering Mechanics

MODULE 13:

Work and Energy

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 Lecture Objectives

 To develop the principle of work and energy and apply it to solve

problems that involve force, velocity, and displacement.

 To introduce the concept of a conservative force and apply the theorem

of conservation of energy to solve kinetic problems.
 Dynamics

Dynamics: It is that branch of Engineering Mechanics, which deals with the

forces and their effects, while acting upon the bodies in motion.

Dynamics

Kinematics Kinetics
 Dynamics
Kinematics: study of the geometry of motion.
Relates displacement, velocity, acceleration, and time without reference to the cause of
motion. Kinematics is not only an important topic in its own right but is also a prerequisite
to kinetics. Therefore, the study of dynamics always begins with the fundamentals of
kinematics.
Kinetics: study of the relations existing
between the forces acting on a body, the mass Fthrust
of the body, and the motion of the body.
Kinetics is used to predict the motion caused
by given forces or to determine the forces
required to produce a given motion. Fdrag
Flift
 The Work of a Force

Work done by the force to move the particle from

position r to rʹ , dU= F.dr
r= Initial position vector of body
rʹ = Position vector of body after time dt
where dr = rʹ -r
The magnitude of vector dr is ds, the length of the
differential segment along the path.

If the angle between the tails of dr and F is θ, then the work

done by F is a scalar quantity, defined by: dU = F ds cos θ
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 The Work of a Force
By definition of the dot product the equation for work can also be written as
dU = F . dr
Two interpretations of Work

dU= Ft*distance travelled in the dU= F *distance travelled in the

direction of Ft = F Cos θ*ds direction of F= F *ds Cos θ 6
 The Work of a Force

The unit of work in SI units is the joule (J), which is the amount of work done by a
one-newton force when it moves through a distance of one meter in the direction
of the force (1 J = 1 N m).

In the FPS system, work is measured in units of foot-pounds (ft lb), which is the
work done by a one-pound force acting through a distance of one foot in the
direction of the force.

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Work of a Variable Force (Mathematical approach)

If the particle acted upon by the force F

undergoes a finite displacement along its path
from r1 to r2 or s1 to s2

Vector product Scalar product

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Work of a Variable Force (Graphical method)

Due to curved path, θ varies and so thus F cosθ

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Work of a Constant Force Moving Along a
Straight Line.

Since F cosθ is constant

Note that Work calculated by area

of F-s diagram yield same result
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 Work of a Weight.

W in vector form can be represented as W=-Wj

Thus, the work is independent of the path and is equal to the magnitude of the particle’s
weight times its displacement in the direction of force exerted by weight. In the case
shown in Figure the work is negative, since W is downward and Δy is upward. 11
Principle of Work and Kinetic Energy

Work done on particle when displaced

from position s1 to position s2 12
 Principle of Work and Kinetic Energy

Kinetic energy,T1, at position s1

Kinetic energy,T2, at position s2

Thus Work done by the resultant force acting on a particle = change in

the kinetic energy of the particle.

When this principle is used in kinetic analysis, the method is referred to

as the Work-Energy method
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 Principle of Work and Kinetic Energy

Caution
 Work of a force is a scalar quantity (positive, negative, or zero) that is
associated with a change in the position of the point of application of the force.
(The phrase “work at a given position” is meaningless).

 Kinetic energy is a scalar quantity (always positive) associated with the speed
of a particle at a given instant of time.

 The work-energy principle, U = ΔT , is a scalar equation.

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Points to remember

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Points to remember

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Problem 13.1

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 Problem 13.1: Soln v =40 km/hr =11.11 m/s
1 2

3m

1 2
Energy of truck when it stops:
T2 = 0 W
Motion

Work done by friction to change the K.E from T1 to T2

Fk =μkN
U1-2= -Fk *s=-μkN*s = -μk*W*3
N
Applying work-energy principle
1. Why we do not consider the work done by W ?
U1-2= T2 - T1 or -3μkW = -6.29W 2. Why U1-2 is –ve ?
 μk = 2.097 3. Why we are calculating μk , though not required?
 Problem 13.1: Soln v =80 km/hr =22.22 m/s
1 2

1 2

Energy of truck when it stops:T2 = 0

W

Work done by friction to change the K.E from T1 to T2

U1-2= -Fk *s=-μkN*s = -2.097*W*s Fk =μkN

Applying work-energy principle

N
U1-2= T2 - T1 or -2.097Ws = - 25.16W
 s = 12 m
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Problem 13.2

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 1
Problem 13.2

2
Initial K.E: T1=0

1
K.E. of block when it stops at C:
T2= 0 W

2
Motion

Ff= μkN

Work done by friction and gravity to change K.E, from T1 to T2

N
U1-2= W*h-Fk *(10-s) =0
 W*h-μkN*(10-s) = 0 Why Work by gravity is +ve while that of friction is
–ve ?
 30*4-0.6*30*(10-s) =0
 s= 3.333 ft 21
 Work of a central force

A central force has two defining characteristics:

1. it is always directed toward a fixed point, and
2. its magnitude is a function of the distance between the fixed point and the
point of application of the force.

Gravitational attraction and the force exerted by a spring are two common
examples of a central force.

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 Work of a central force

s
dU = F ds cos θ = F (ds cos θ)
θ

dR= ds cos θ
or dU = -F dR

where dR is the increase in the distance between the point of application of

F and the fixed point O. The minus sign is the result of F and dR having
opposite directions.
The work of F during a finite displacement from position 1 to
position 2 is:
--------------- 13.1
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 Work of a central force:
1. Spring Force
An “ideal” spring has negligible weight, and its deformation (elongation or
contraction) is proportional to the force that causes it.
Most spiral springs closely approximate these ideal conditions. The
proportionality between the force F and the resulting elongation s is
expressed as:

F= ks

where k is called the stiffness of the spring or the spring constant. The
dimension of k is [F/L]; its units are N/m or lb/ft.
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 Work of a central force:
1. Spring Force ds
Fs
Consider the spring with actual length, Lo and elongated
deformed length, L . Let s is the elongation in length. s

Lo
Spring force corresponding to s, Fs= ks.

Let ds is the incremental elongation. Since Spring force is a

central force, therefore, dR in below eqn can be replaced by
ds to derive expression for work by spring force.

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 Work of a central force:
1. Spring Force

This work represents the trapezoidal

area under the line Fs = ks,

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 Work of a central force:
2. Gravitational Force
The work of the gravitational force (weight) acting on a body near the surface of the
earth can be computed from Eq. 13.1

Away from the surface of the earth, work must determined from Newton’s law of
gravitation

where F is the force of attraction between two bodies of masses mA and mB

separated by the distance R, and G represents the universal gravitational constant.

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 Work of a central force:
2. Gravitational Force
The force F shown in Figure represents the gravitational
force exerted by the body B on another body A.

A common application of above Equation is space mechanics, particularly

the flight of satellites. In that case, mA = Me (the mass of the earth), and R is
the distance of the satellite from the center of the earth.
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 Conservative Forces
 If the work of a force is independent of the path and depends only on the
force’s initial and final positions on the path, then we can classify this
force as a conservative force.
 Weight and Spring force are examples of conservative forces. The work
done by the weight depends only on the vertical displacement of the
weight, and the work done by a spring force depends only on the spring’s
elongation or compression.
 Friction force are examples of non conservative forces The work done
by the frictional force depends on the path—the longer the path, the
greater the work
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 Problem 13.3
The 8-kg block is moving with an initial speed of 5 m/s. If the coefficient of
kinetic friction between the block and plane is μk = 0.25, determine the
compression in the spring when the block momentarily stops.

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 1 2
Problem 13.3: Soln
Initial K.E of block:
T1 = ½ mv12 = ½ *8 *52= 100 jouls 1 2

K.E of Block when compress the spring by distance x , and stops momentarily: T2 = 0

Work done by Friction and spring to change the K.E. , from T1 to T2

Motion
U1-2= -Ff*(2+x)- ½ Fs *x =- μk N(2+x)- ½ (kA*x)*x
= -0.25*(8*9.81)(2+x)- ½ *200*x2 Fs
= -100x2-19.62x-39.24 Why Work by spring force and
friction force are –ve ?
By Work-Energy Principle Fk
U1-2 = T2-T1 or -100x2-19.62x-39.24 = - 100 100x2+19.62x-60.76 = 0
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or x=0.69m, -0.88m
 Energy

Energy is defined as the capacity for doing work.

For example, if a particle is originally at rest, then the principle of work and
energy states that: U1-2 = T2-T1=T2-0 = T2= ½ mv2

In other words, the kinetic energy is equal to the work that must be done on
the particle to bring it from a state of rest to a speed v.

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 Potential Energy

Energy due to the position of the particle, measured from a fixed datum or
reference plane, is called potential energy.

Thus, potential energy is a measure of the amount of work a conservative

force will do when it moves from a given position to the datum.

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 Gravitational Potential Energy, Vg
When raised above datum, weight W is capable of
doing positive work due to gravitational pull. While it is
below datum, work is required to be done to bring it
to datum and thus –ve work

In general, if y is positive upward, the gravitational

potential energy of the particle of weight W is:

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 Elastic Potential Energy, Ve

When an elastic spring is elongated or

compressed a distance s from its unstretched
position, elastic potential energy Ve can be
Fs
stored in the spring.This energy is
Particle move in the direction
Ve = + ½ ks2 of spring force, Fs

Ve is always positive in the deformed position, Fs

since the force of the spring has the capacity

or “potential” to bring particle back to the
Particle move in the direction
undeformed position of spring. of spring force, Fs

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 Conservative forces and potential energy
When a particle is subjected to conservative forces, the total energy
is called Potential function.
Taking unstretched position
of spring as datum

Direction of
particle motion
It can be proved that:

The work of a conservative force = Decrease in its potential energy

i.e., U1-2 = V1 - V2 36
 Conservation of mechanical energy

if a the particle moves from position 1 to position 2, the change in its potential
energy is : U1–2 = V1-V2

Also, from work-energy principle: U1-2 = ΔT = T2 -T1

 V1-V2 = T2-T1 or V1+T1 = V2+T2 ------------------(I)

Total mechanical energy, E = T + V, Eqn. (I) becomes:

E1 = E2 or ΔE = 0
It can thus be concluded that during the motion the sum of the particle’s kinetic
and potential energies remains constant.This is known as Principle of Conservation of
Mechanical Energies. 37
 Conservation of energy for the system
with non conservative forces
Because the work done by a kinetic friction force is not independent of the
path, kinetic friction is a non conservative force.
Therefore, when kinetic friction is present, the total mechanical energy is
not conserved, but is reduced by the negative work done by the friction
force.
This energy is not lost; it is transformed into thermal energy in the form of
heat. In other words, the total energy is still conserved; it is the form of the
energy that has changed.

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 Conservation of energy for the system
with non conservative forces
When a particle is acted upon by a system of both conservative and
nonconservative forces, the portion of the work done by the conservative
forces can be written in terms of the difference in their potential energies
using (ΣU1 -2 )cons. = V1 - V2.

 The principle of work and energy can be written as:

T1 + V1 + (ΣU1 -2)noncons. = T2 + V2

Here (ΣU1-2)noncons. represents the work of the nonconservative forces acting

on the particle.
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Points to remember

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Points to remember

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Points to remember

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 Problem 13.4
When s = 0.6 m, the spring is unstretched and the 10-kg block has a speed of 5
m/s down the smooth plane. Determine the distance s when the block stops.

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 Problem 13.4
Total Energy of block at position A (Taking B as Datum)
A
Vg1=W(AB sin 30o); B
Let AB=sʹ Vg1=W(sʹ sin 30o)=10*9.81(0.5sʹ) =49.05sʹ
Vs1 = 0
Spring in unstretched condition (point A)
T1 = ½ mv2 = ½ *10*52 =125 J

Total Energy when block the come at rest position (Point B)

Vg2=W*0= 0 A
Vs2 = ½ k(sʹ)2 = 100(sʹ)2 B

T 2= 0
Spring in stretched condition (point B)
 Problem 13.4

T1 + V1 + (ΣU1 -2)noncons. = T2 + V2
125+ [49.05sʹ +0]+100 sʹ = 0+ 100(sʹ)2
100(sʹ)2-149.05sʹ -125 = 0
 sʹ = 2.09, -0.6
sʹ =2.09 m
s = 0.6+sʹ = 0.6+2.09 = 2.69 m

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 Exercise 13

Solve the problems using both

i. Work-Energy Principle and
ii. Conservation of energies principle
13.1

Ans: k= 974 lb/in

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 Exercise 13
13.2
10.4

Ans: d= 5.7 m

13.3

Ans: P= 98.1 N

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 Exercise 13
13.4

Ans: 3.88 ft
13.5

Ans: vB= 5.42 m/s

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