COURSE TITLE: MECHANIC

COURSE CODE: MTS 104

LECTURER’S NAME: MR. A. A. YUSUF
MODULE 4
* Work, Power and Energy
* Application of principle of conservation of energy to motion
particles and elastic strings and springs
* Simple Harmonic motion.

WORK

When a force acts on an object and the object actually moves in

the direction of force, then the work is said to be done by the
force.

Work done by the force is equal to the product of the force and the
displacement of the object in the direction of force.

If under a constant force F the object displaced through a distance

s, then work done by the force

W = F * s = F s cos θ
where θ is the smaller angle between F and s.

Work is a scalar quantity. Its S1 unit is joule and CGS unit is erg.
Therefore 1 joule = 107 erg. Its dimensional formula is [ML2T-2].
Work done by a force is zero, if
(a) body is not displaced actually, i.e., s = 0
(b) body is displaced perpendicular to the direction of force, i.e.,
θ = 90°.
Work done by a force is positive if angle between F and s is acute
angle.

Work done by a force is negative if angle between F and s is

obtuse angle.

Work done by a constant force depends only on the initial and

final Positions and not on the actual path followed between initial
and final positions.

Work done in different conditions

(i) Work done by a variable force is given by

W = ∫ F * ds

It is equal to the area under the force-displacement graph along

with proper sign.

Work done = Area ABCDA.

(ii) Work done in displacing anybody under the action of a

number of forces is equal to the work done by the resultant force.
(iii) In equilibrium (static or dynamic), the resultant force is zero
therefore resultant work done is zero.

(iv) If work done by a force during a rough trip of a system is

zero, then the force is conservative, otherwise it is called non-
conservative force.

Gravitational force, electrostatic force, magnetic force, etc., are

conservative forces. All the central forces are conservative forces.

Frictional force, viscous force, etc., are non-conservative forces.

(v) Work done by the force of gravity on a particle of mass m is

given by W = mgh
where g is acceleration due to gravity and his height through
particle one displaced.

(vi) Work done in compressing or stretching a spring is given by

W = 1 / 2 kx2
where k is spring constant and x is displacement from mean
position.

(vii) When on end of a spring is attached to a fixed vertical

support and a block attached to the free end moves on a horizontal
table from x = x1 to x = x2 then W = 1 / 2 k (x2x2 – x2x1).

(viii) Work done by the couple for an angular displacement θ is

given by W = i * θ where i is the torque of the couple.
Example 1. A constant force F of magnitude 100 N acts on a block of
mass 15kg that is resting on a surface. A constant frictional force of 20 N acts
on the block and the block moves a distance of 80cm.

Calculate:
a. The work done on the block by force F.
b. The work done on the block by frictional force.

Solution: (a)
W = FΔxcos θ
0
W = 100(0.8)cos0
W = 80 J (Force F does work in the direction of displacement).
(b)
W = fΔxcos θ
W = 20(0.8)cos1800
W = - 16 J (Frictional force does work in the opposite direction of
displacement.)

Work done on an object by a force acting at an angle to the horizontal.

 Resolving Forces into components

Forces are vectors and can be split (resolved) into two perpendicular
separate forces in more convenient directions.

Consider the vector sum of forces F1 and F2 using the triangle law. Let
the sum be F.

The second figure is equivalent to the first because vectors can be

moved parallel to themselves without affecting their value.

Clearly the magnitudes of the three vectors satisfy

F1 = F cos θ and F2 = F sin θ

Note that When we move through the angle θ we get a cosine and when
we move away from the angle θ, we get a sine.

Reversing this process we can now replace vector F by the two vectors
F1 and F2 arranged as in the second figure.

Now consider the weight (force of gravity) in the previous example.

This is a vertical force, with magnitude mg.
However we can split it into two forces parallel and perpendicular to the
plane.

Here the weight (vector) has been replaced by vector F1, parallel to the
plane, and vector F2, perpendicular to the plane.

Note:
The magnitude F2 of F2 is mg cos θ since we move through the angle θ.
The magnitude F1 of F1 is mg sin θ since we move away from the angle
θ.
Example 2: A man cleaning a frictionless floor pulls a vacuum cleaner with
a force F of magnitude 50 N at an angle of 30° with the horizontal.
.

Calculate the work done by the force F on the vacuum cleaner as the vacuum
cleaner is displaced 3 m to the right

Solution
W = FΔxcosθ
W = (50)(3.0) cos 300
W = 129.9 J
Assignment I
1. As shown below, how much work is done on the lawnmower by the person
if: he exerts a constant force of 75 N at an angle 35º below the horizontal;
and pushes the mower 25m on level ground?

2. A worker pushes a wooden block by applying a force F, which acts at

an angle of 25o to the horizontal.

Find the magnitude and direction of the horizontal component of force F.

Power

The time rate of work done by a body is called its power.

Power = Rate of doing work = Work done / Time taken.

If under a constant force F a body is displaced through a distance s in

time t, the power
p = W / t = F * s / t.
But s / t = v ; uniform velocity with which body is displaced.

∴ P = F * v = F v cos θ
where θ is the smaller angle between F and v.

Power is a scalar quantity. Its S1 unit is watt and its dimensional

formula is [ML2T-3].
Its other units are kilowatt and horse power,
1 kilowatt = 1000 watt
1 horse power = 746 watt.

Example 1 (a) If a motor is rated at 5.60kW, how much work can it do

in 20 minutes?
(b) A tow-truck is pulling a trailer up a steep hill. If it has a 5hp engine,
how much work does the truck do in a minute?

Solution
(a). P = W/Δt

5.6 x 1000 = W/ Δt , Δt =20x60=1200

W = 5.6 x 1000 x 1200 =6720 kJ.

(b) P = W/Δt

5 x 746 = W/ 60

W = 5 x 746 x 60 = 223.8 kJ
Example 2: A car of mass 800 kg moves at a constant speed of 36 km/hr
up a 1 in 8 incline. The top of the hill is a horizontal distance of 128m
from the car’s initial position. Find
(i) The work done in getting to the top of the hill.
(ii) The power at which the car works.
(Neglect friction, air resistance etc. Take g = 9.81ms−2.)
Example 3. A car of mass 1000 kg can produce a maximum power of 45
kW. Its driver wishes to overtake another vehicle. Ignoring air resistance,
find the maximum acceleration of the car when it is travelling at
(i) 12 m s−1 (ii) 28 m s−1 (these are about 43 km h−1 and 101 km h−1).

SOLUTION

(i) Power = force × velocity

The driving force at 12 m s-1 is F1 N where
45 000 = F1 × 12
F1 = 3750.

By Newton’s second law F = ma

acceleration = 3750/1000 = 3.75 m s–2.
(ii) Now the driving force F2 is given by
45 000 = F2 × 28
⇒ F2 = 1607
⇒ acceleration = 1607/1000 =1.61ms –2 .

Example 4. A car of mass 900 kg produces power 45 kW when moving at

a constant speed. It experiences a resistance of 1700 N.
(i) What is its speed?
(ii) The car comes to a downhill stretch inclined at 2° to the horizontal.
What is its maximum speed downhill if the power and resistance remain
unchanged?

SOLUTION
(i) As the car is travelling at a constant speed, there is no resultant
force on the car. In this case the forward force of the engine must
have the same magnitude as the resistance forces, i.e. 1700 N.
Denoting the speed of the car by v m s−1, P = Fv gives
v=P
F= 45 000/1700 = 26.5.
The speed of the car is 26.5 m s−1 (approximately 95 km h−1).

(ii)
At maximum speed there is no acceleration so the resultant force
down the slope is zero.
When the driving force is D N
D + 900g sin 2° − 1700 = 0
⇒ D = 1386
But power is Dv so 45 000 = 1386 v
⇒ v =45 000/1386
The maximum speed is 32.5 m s−1 (about 117 km h−1).

Energy
If a body has the capacity (or ability) to do work we say it has energy.
The energy of the body is the amount of work it can do.

When the body does some work it uses up some of its energy. But if
work is done on the body its energy increases.

Energy comes in many forms (heat, light, electricity, . . .) but we

consider only mechanical energy. Mechanical energy is of two types:

a) kinetic energy – ability to do work by virtue of having speed.

b) potential energy – ability to do work by virtue of position.

Kinetic Energy
Suppose a particle of mass m is accelerated from rest to velocity v in a
distance x by a constant force F. Here u = 0, so
v2 = 0 + 2ax.

But also F = ma so
v2 = 2 (F/m) x
Fx = ½ mv2

Force times distance is work done, so the work done in getting to speed
v from speed 0 is ½ mv2. This is called the kinetic energy of the particle,
since if we now reverse the process the particle can do this amount of
work in slowing down to rest.

Therefore kinetic energy (KE) =1/2 mv2..

Note: since work is measured in joules, so is energy.

Potential Energy

Potential energy is usually due to gravity. Suppose we lift a particle of

mass m from height 0 to height h. (We do this infinitely slowly, so no
KE is involved.) The force needed is mg, and the distance moved is h, so
the work done is mgh.

Again, if we reverse the process the particle can do this amount of work
in coming down (very slowly!).

Potential energy (PE) (due to gravity) = mgh.

Note:
1. We only ever need changes in height, so it doesn’t matter where we
measure height from.
2. If h is −ve, then so is PE.

Another type of potential energy occurs when a spring is compressed, or

an elastic string is stretched. Since we have to do work to do either of
these, then reversing the process can cause work to be done.

Example 1: A particle of mass 2 kg is initially 3m above a table of

height 1m. It is moved slowly down on to the table. Find the change in
the PE.
Initial height h1 = 4, so PE = mgh = 2g × 4 = 8g
Final height h2 = 1, so PE = mgh=2g × 1 = 2g.

So change in PE is 2g − 8g = −6g joules.

Note: Change in height is −3m,
so change in PE is mg × (−3) = −6g as expected.

Example 2: Find the change in PE of the car in the example 2, on power,

which moved up a hill.

Solution:
 Equivalence of Work and Energy
When work is done on a body by applying a force which moves through
a distance, e.g. by

- raising it (or compressing spring, stretching elastic etc.)

- accelerating it (increasing its velocity)
then its energy increases by the amount of work done.

Similarly, a body which possesses energy, either kinetic or potential, can

give up that energy by doing work. Hence we say

Work and Energy are equivalent and they are both measured in joules.

Conservation of Energy

If no work is done on a body, then its energy is unchanged. We say: If

the total work done by external forces acting on a body is zero, there is
no change in the total mechanical energy of the body.

This is called the principle of conservation of mechanical energy.

Notes:
1. The weight of a body does not count as an external force, since PE
already takes this into account.

2. Although the total mechanical energy is unchanged, it can change

from PE to KE or vice versa.