MINDANAO STATE UNIVERSITY – GENERAL SANTOS CITY

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

Dynamics of Rigid Bodies

Conservation of Mechanical Energy
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Lesson Objectives:
1. Define and classify conservative and non-conservative forces.
2. Define and identify the potential energy of various forces.
3. Apply the concept of conservation of mechanical energy in solving problems that involve force,
velocity, and displacement.
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I. Conservative Forces and Potential Energy

If the work of a force does not depend on the path and is only dependent on the force’s initial and final
positions on the path, then we can classify this force as a conservative force. Examples of conservative forces
are the weight of a particle and the force developed by a spring. 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. In contrast to a conservative force, consider the force of friction exerted on a sliding
object by a fixed surface. The work done by the frictional force depends on the path—the longer the path, the
greater the work. Consequently, frictional forces are nonconservative. The work is dissipated from the body in
the form of heat.

Energy is defined as the capacity for doing work. For example, if a particle is originally at rest (v 1=0),
then the principle of work and energy states that ΣU 1−2=T 2. 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 2. Thus, the kinetic energy is a
measure of the particle’s capacity to do work, which is associated with the motion of the particle. Now when
energy comes from the position of the particle, measured from a fixed datum or reference plane, it 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.
II. Gravitational Potential Energy
If a particle is located a distance y above an arbitrarily selected datum, as
shown on the right, the particle’s weight W has positive gravitational potential
energy, V g, since W has the capacity of doing positive work when the particle is
moved back down to the datum. Likewise, if the particle is located a distance y
below the datum, V g is negative since the weight does negative work when the
particle is moved back up to the datum. At the datum V g= 0. In general, if y is
positive upward, the gravitational potential energy V g of the particle with weight
W is
V g=Wy

III. Elastic Potential Energy

When an elastic spring is elongated or compressed a

distance s from its unstretched position, elastic potential energy
V e can be stored in the spring. This energy is
+1 2
V e= ks
2
In this case, the elastic potential energy is always
positive since, in the deformed position, the force of the spring
has the capacity or “potential” for always doing positive work on
the particle when the spring is returned to its unstretched
position.

IV. Conservation of Energy

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
(∑ U 1−2)cons=V 1−V 2. As a result, the principle of work and energy can be written as
T 1+V 1+ (∑ U 1−2)noncons=T 2+ V 2

In this equation (∑ U 1−2)noncons represents the work done by the nonconservative forces acting on the particle.
If only conservative forces do work on the particle then we have
 T 1+V 1=T 2 +V 2
This equation is referred to as the conservation of mechanical energy or simply the conservation of
energy. It states that during the motion the sum of the particle’s kinetic and potential energies remains
constant.
The conservation of energy equation can be used to solve problems involving velocity, displacement,
and conservative force systems. It is generally easier to apply than the principle of work and energy because this
equation requires specifying the particle’s kinetic and potential energies at only two points along the path,
rather than determining the work when the particle moves through a displacement.
When solving problems under this concept, it is suggested that the following procedure be used.

Potential Energy.
1. Draw two diagrams showing the particle located at its initial and final points along the path.
2. If the particle has a component of displacement in the vertical direction, establish the fixed horizontal
datum from which to measure the particle’s gravitational potential energy V g.
3. Data pertaining to the elevation y of the particle from the datum and the stretch or compression s of
any connecting springs can be easily determined from the geometry associated with the two diagrams.
4. Always remember that V g=Wy , where y is always positive upward from the datum and negative
+1 2
downward from the datum; also for a spring, V e = k s , is always positive.
2

Example:
1. A smooth 2-kg collar shown fits loosely on the vertical shaft. If the spring is unstretched when the
collar is in the position A, determine the speed at which the collar is moving when y=1 m , if (a) it is released
from rest at A, and (b) it is released at A with an upward velocity of 2 m/s.

Solution: First, draw a diagram that shows the particle’s initial and final position. This diagram is shown in the
next page, where A is its initial position and C is it final position.
Potential Energy. For our convenience, the datum is established through the horizontal AB. When the collar is at
C, the gravitational potential energy is −( mg) y , since the collar is below the datum, and the elastic potential
1 2
energy is k s . Here sCB =0.5 m, which represents the stretch in the spring as shown in the figure.
2 CB

(a) Conservation of Energy. Since only conservative forces do work on

the particle, we will have
T A +V A =T B +V B
1 2 1 2
0+ 0= m v C + k s CB −mgy
2 2
1 2 1
0+ 0= ( 2kg ) v C + ( 3 N /m )( 0.5 m) −( 2 kg ) ( 9.81 /s ) (1 m )
2 2
2 2
vC =4.3869 m/s ↓

(b) Conservation of Energy. If the velocity at its initial position A is v a=2 m/s, we will have
T A +V A =T B +V B
1 2 1 2 1 2
m v A +0= m v C + k sCB −mgy
2 2 2
1
(2 kg ) ¿
2
vC =4.8213 m/s ↓

Note: Does it make sense that the velocity in Part b is greater than the velocity from the condition given in Part
A? What will happen to the velocity at position c if the initial velocity is 2 m/s downward?
2. The ram R shown has a mass of 100 kg and is released from rest 0.75 m from the
top of a spring, A, that has a stiffness k A =12 kN /m . If a second spring B, having a
stiffness k B=15 kN /m, is “nested” in A, determine the maximum displacement of
A needed to stop the downward motion of the ram. The unstretched length of each
spring is indicated in the figure. Neglect the mass of the springs.

Solution: First, draw a diagram that shows the particle’s initial and final position.
This diagram is shown below, where 1 is its initial position and 2 is its final position.
Potential Energy. Take note that there are two springs of different lengths
present. We will assume that the ram compresses both springs at the instant it
comes to rest. The datum is located through the center of gravity of the ram at
its initial position. When the kinetic energy is reduced to zero (v 2=0), A is
compressed a distance s A and B compresses s B=s A −0.1 m.

Conservation of Energy. Since only conservative forces do work on the particle,

we will have
T 1+V 1=T 2 +V 2
1 2 1 2
0+ 0=0+ k A s A + k B ( s A−0.1 ) −mgy
2 2
1 2 1
0+ 0=0+ ( 12 000 N /m) s A + (15 000 N /m ) ( s A −0.1 ) −( 100 kg ) ( 9.81 m/s ) ( 0.75 m+ s A )
2 2
2 2
Solving for the positive root, we have
s A =0.3314 m

Since s B=0.3314 m−0.1m=0.231m , which is positive, the assumption that both springs are compressed by
the ram when it stops is correct. Note: What would you do, if after checking, the initial assumption that both
springs are compressed is wrong?
3. The 10-kg slider moves with negligible friction up the inclined
guide. The attached spring has a stiffness of 60 N/m and is stretched
0.6 m in position A, where the slider is released from rest. The 250-N
force is constant and the pulley offers negligible resistance to the
motion of the cord. Calculate the velocity v c of the slider as it passes
point C.

Solution: First, draw a diagram that shows the particle’s initial and
final position. This diagram is shown on the right, where A is its initial
position and C is its final position.

Nonconservative Force. The only nonconservative force doing work on this system is the 250-N tension applied
to the cord. While the slider moves from A to C, the point of application of the 250-N force moves a distance of
AB−BC or 1.5 m−0.9 m=0.6 m .

Potential Energy. We will define a datum at position A, therefore the initial gravitational potential energy is
equal to zero. Now when the slider is at C, the gravitational potential energy is (mg) y , since the collar is above
the datum. Take note that the spring is already stretched by 0.6 m at its initial position.

Conservation of Energy. Using the alternative work and energy equation,

T 1+V 1+ (∑ U 1−2)noncons=T 2+ V 2
1 2 1 2 1 2
0+ k A s A +250 N ( 0.6 m )= m v C + k B s B +mgy
2 2 2

( )
1 60 N
2 m
1
( 0.6 m )2+ 250 N ( 0.6 m)= ( 10 kg ) v 2C +
2 2 m ( )
1 60 N
( 0.6 m+1.2 m)2 + (10 kg )
9.81 m
s
2 (¿
)
Solving for the value of v c, we have
vC =0.9737 m/s

Note: If the surface is rough, such that the friction force is no longer negligible, will the velocity of the slider at C
be greater or lesser than the one we have obtained above?