Work, Energy and Power

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Work, Energy and Power

Mr B. Mujokoro
Work
• Work done on a system is the product of
the applied force multiplied by the distance
through which the system moves in the
direction of the force.
Work done = Force x distance
• In some instances, one may have to
evaluate the component of the force, i.e,
force is a vector quantity, therefore both
magnitude and direction are important.
Work done = FcosӨ x
distance Work done = weight x
distance

Work done = weight x 0 Work done = Force x


distance
Why is it you get tired just holding a
load?
• Although no work is done in merely
holding a load, the body does internal work
through muscles, this is called internal
work.
• Concentric muscle contractions are
said to do positive (mechanical) work,
while eccentric contractions do
negative work.
• Walking on level ground requires equal
amounts of positive and negative work.
• Walking uphill requires relatively more
positive work, while walking downhill
requires relatively more negative work.
Energy
• The ability to do work is called energy.
• There are many different forms of energy
for which work can be done as the energy
is transferred from one form another.
– Chemical energy
– Electrical energy
– Solar energy
– Mechanical energy (kinetic energy and
potential energy)
– Thermal energy etc
Principle of Conservation of Energy

• Energy cannot be created or destroyed,


but is transferred from one form to
another.
Bioenergetics
Involves the breakdown
of biomolecules
oxidation of some
chemical bonds
(chemical energy)
conversion into
mechanical energy
(kinetic energy for
motion) and production
Principle of Conservation of Energy:
The Heart

Chemical energy is converted


into electrical energy in the sino
atrial node.
The electrical energy is carried
to the muscles which contracts
at every impulse.
The contraction/relaxation
causes mechanical opening and
closing of the valves (kinetic
energy) and also heat energy
(thermal energy)
Mechanical energy

Mechanical energy
• (Gravitational) Potential energy is the
energy possessed by a body due to its
position in space
• Work done = Force x distance
= mg x h
Potential energy = mgh
Work-Energy Principle

Conservation of Mechanical Energy

• If work is done in a conservative potential


energy system (eg, gravitational potential
or spring) then the work-energy principle
can be modified to include work done
against the potential field such that the
work-energy principle becomes;
Conservation of Mechanical Energy

• The preceding eqn implies that “the total


kinetic and potential energy is constant for
any process involving only conservative
forces”

• This is known as the principle of


conservation of mechanical energy.
The Joule
• The previous discussion has showed the
“equivalence” of work and energy (one can
derive energy from the work).
• Therefore the units of work and energy are
the same, i.e, Nm, and are called Joules.
• One Joule equals the work done (or energy
exerted) by a force of one newton in moving
its point of application through a distance
of one meter in the direction of the force.
Examples
1. How much work is done
on the lawn mower if he
exerts a constant force
of 75.0 N at an angle 35
o

below the horizontal and


pushes the mower 25.0
m on level ground?
2. Compare it with this
person’s average daily
intake of 10,000 kJ.
3. If 1kcal (food energy)
equals 4184J. Calculate
the equivalent amount
food that has been
expended.
Examples
• Suppose that you push
on the 30.0-kg package
with a force of 120 N
through a distance of
0.800 m, and that the
opposing friction force
averages 5.00 N.
1. Calculate 2. If the force was applied
a. Work done by applied for 200 ms determine
force the final velocity that
b. Work done by friction the package will have
c. Net work done after removal of the
force.
3. How far will the
package go before it
Examples
• A 60.0-kg person jumps onto the floor
from a height of 3.00 m. If he lands stiffly
(with his knee joints compressing by
0.500 cm), calculate the force on the knee
joints.
Power
• Power is the rate at which work is done.

• The units of power are Watts (1 W = 1J/s)


• Because work is energy transfer, power is
also the rate at which energy is expended.
• A 60-W light bulb, for example, expends 60
J of energy per second.
• Great power means a large amount of work
or energy developed in a short time.
Example
1. What is the power
output for a 60.0-kg
woman who runs up
a 3.00 m high flight of
stairs in 3.50 s,
starting from rest but
having a final speed
of 2.00 m/s?
2. Which mechanical
energy does more
work?

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