Chapter 6

WORK AND ENERGY

Head for cover

One right after another

Raised eyebrows

Two pees in a pod

Work
Work is one of the
ways that energy
can be transferred
to or from an object.
Work

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Energy

Page 3

Definition of Work
Work requires a force be applied to an object undergoing
a displacement.
Work is not done unless the object moves in the
direction of the applied force.
The application of force alone does not make work.
The unit of work is the N-m or Joule (J)

Force
Displacement

Work
Force and displacement
are vectors.
Work is a scalar.
Only the component of
the force that acts in the
direction of the
displacement does the
work.

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Force

Displacement

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Definition of work

If = 0, then the cos 0 = 1 and therefore

if = 90, then cos 90 = 0 and therefore .
If = 180, then the cos 180 = -1 and therefore

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Definition of work
If you are pushing down on a box and the box
is moving sideways (not down), then you are
not doing work.
This implies that no work is done if the force
applied is perpendicular to the direction of
motion of the object

Work
Work can be positive or negative.
Work is positive when the component of
force is in the same direction as
displacement

Positive Work

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Work
Work is negative when the force is in
the direction opposite to the
displacement

Negative Work

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How Much Work?

2011-2013 Rice University.

Example 1: Work on a point object.

A rubber band applies a force of 2.0 N to an Angry
Bird over a distance of 0.30 m. How much work is
done on the bird by the rubber band?

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Example 2: Work on a point object.

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Rovio Entertainment

An Angry bird is dragged 1.0 m across a frictionless

table. The applied force is 2.0 N at an angle of 30
degrees from horizontal. How much work does the
applied force do?

Example 3: Work on a point object.

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Rovio Entertainment

A science teacher carries a 40.0 g Angry Bird

for a distance of 2.0 m at a constant speed.
How much work was done by the teacher on
the bird

Work
If more than one force acts on an
object, then we calculate net work two
ways:
Find the work done by each force, and add
the works.
3m

2N

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W1= 15 J & W2= -6 J

WNET =15 J- 6 J = 9 J
5N

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Work
Or find the net force, and use the net force
to calculate work.
3m

2N

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WNET = FNET x
WNET = 3 N x 3 m = 9J
3N 5 N

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Graphical Interpretation of
Work

Hookes Law
Force vs. displacement
4.5
The force exerted on a spring is

directly proportional to the distance

the spring is stretched.

F kx

The force exerted by the spring is

opposite the direction of

displacement.

Force (N)

4
3.5
3
2.5
2
1.5
1
0.5

F kx

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
x (m)

Graphical Interpretation of Work

Consider a graph of the component of the force in the

direction of the displacement vs. position.

FX

Work

Work is calculated as the area under the graph

Example 4: Graphical Interpretation of Work

Find the work done by the

force graphed below.

FX
5
N

3
m

7
m

2011-2013 Rice University.

Example 5: Work on a Spring

A spring that obeys Hookes Law is attached

W
W
tthh rriittee
iinn iiss ee ddoow
yyoo qquu wnn
uuss uurr nn aattiioo
ee
oo nn
pprr pprraa iinn tthh tteess::
oobb cctt
iiccee ee
lleem
m
ffoo ss
llloo tthh
w
w aatt

to a stationary bracket.

Hookes Law gives the force of a spring as F=-

kx

Find the work done on the spring when it is

stretched from x = 0 to x = xf.

Work done on a spring =

Practice problems
A spring stretches .020 m when a force of

0.60 N is applied. What is the spring

constant of the spring? How much work
would be done on the spring to stretch it to
a length of 0.040 m?
A slingshot requires 40 N of force to stretch

1.6 cm. How much work would be done on

the rubber bands in the slingshot to stretch
it that far? Assume the rubber bands
follow Hookes Law.

Question 1: solution
Calculating the spring

constant.
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Calculating work done on the spring

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Question 2: solution
Calculating

constant.
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the spring
Calculating work done

on the spring
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Assignment
6.1 Assignment

6-2:
Energy
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WORK-ENERGY
THEOREM

Work is one of the

ways energy can be
transferred to or from
an object.
We will mainly
consider cases where
work is the only type
of energy transfer.

Ra
di
at
ion

Work Energy Theorem

Work

Energy
of
Object

Co
Co ndu
nv cti
ec on
tio
n

What happens when we do work?

When we do
positive work on
the object, we
increase its energy.

When negative
work is done, we
decrease its energy.

Work-Energy Theorem

WNET E

Work transfers
energy to or from an
object or system.

The net work done

on an object or
system equals the
change in energy of
the object or system.

With what type of energy does the

box end up?

Work and Kinetic Energy

The net work done on

a point object is the
work done by the net
force.
By Newtons Second
Law, FNET=ma,

Using an equation
from kinematics,

By substitution, we get

WNET FNET x
WNET max
v 2f v02 2ax
1
2

v 2f 12 v02 ax

WNET 12 mv 2f 12 mv02

Kinetic Energy

An object moving with velocity v and mass

m has a kinetic energy given by:

KE mv
1
2

Work-Energy Theorem for a point

object

The work done on a point object is equal

to the change in its kinetic energy.

WNET KE mv mv
1
2

2
f

1
2

2
0

Example 1: Applying the WorkEnergy Theorem to a Point Object.

A force of 120. N pushes a box along a smooth

board a distance of 0.800 m. The board exerts a
force of 5.00 N opposite the motion. How fast will
the box be moving after this push? The mass of
the box is 30.0 kg.

G:
U:WNET 12 mv 2f 12 mv02
E: (F )( x) 12 m(v 2 )
S: (120 5)(0.80) 12 30(v 2 )

S:

Example 2: Applying the WorkEnergy Theorem to a Point Object

A 6.0-kg box is raised

from rest a distance of 3.0
meters by a vertical force
of 80. N. Find the work
done by the force, the
work done by gravity, and
the final speed of the box.
(Assume g = 10. m/s2.)
Answer: +240 J, -180 J,
4.5 m/s

Example 2: Applying the WorkEnergy Theorem to a Point Object

G:
U: W force , Wgravity , v ?
E: WNET FNET x
WNET 12 mv 2f 12 mv02

S:

W force Fa (x ) (80)(3) 240 J

Wgravity Fg (x) (6 10)(3) 180 J
WNET 12 m(v 2 )

S:
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(240 180) 12 (6)(v 2 )

38

Section Assignment

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39

Chapter 5-3

Potential Energy

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40

Work can be done on systems of

objects.

When net work is

done on a single
particle, the kinetic
energy changes.
When work is done
on a system, the
energy can be
changed in other
ways.

10 kg

Example 5: Work on a system

FAPPLIED
2m

Consider the
mass to be a
separate object.
Calculate
the
W
APP ( 40 N)(2 m) 80 J
net work done
Wg (40 N)(2 m) - 80 J
on the mass.
WNET 80 J - 80 J 0

4 kg
FGRAVITY

Example 5: Work on a system

Now treat the
Earth and the
mass as part of
the same
system.
Calculate the
network
done
WAPP
(40 N)(2
m) 80 J
on the system.
WNET WAPP 80 J

FAPPLIED

4 kg

2m

Definition: Conservative Forces

A force is conservative
if the total work it does
on a particle is zero
when the particle
moves along any
closed path returning
to its initial position.
Gravity

These forces are part

of the system.

Friction: A Nonconservative
A box sliding up a ramp is acted on by a force
Force

of gravity of magnitude 5.0 N and a frictional

force of magnitude 1.0 N.
The box slides up a distance of 3 meters, and
back down a distance of 3 meters.
When the box returns to the starting point,
what is the net work done by gravity? What
is the net work done by friction?
The work done by a nonconservative force
like friction depends on the path taken.

Potential Energy

Potential energy is defined as stored

energy.
Potential energy is present in an object
that has the potential to move because of
its position relative to some other location.
Unlike Kinetic energy, potential energy
depends not only on the properties of an
object, but also on the objects interaction
with the environment

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Gravitational Potential
Energy
(GPE)

Gravitational Potential energy is the

energy due to the position of the
object relative to the Earth or some
other gravitational source.

Units are joules (J)

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Elastic Potential Energy

Elastic potential energy is stored in any
compressed or stretched object, such
as a spring or the stretched strings of a
tennis racket or guitar.
The length of the spring when no
external forces are acting on it is called
the relaxed length of the spring.

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Spring Constant

k = spring constant
Spring constant expresses how resistant a
spring is to being compressed or
stretched.
Flexible spring = small k
Firm Spring = large k
Spring constant units = N/m
x = distance compressed or stretched

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Spring constant

The spring constant k

is determined from
Hookes Law:

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Fapplied
x

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Types of Potential Energy:

Other types of potential energy

include:

Mechanical energy:

Nonmechanical energy:

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energy due to the position and motion of an

object
Nuclear energy
Chemical energy
Electrical energy
Heat and internal energy
51

Practice problem # 1

A 40.0 kg child is in a swing that is attached

to ropes 2.0 m long. Find the gravitational
potential energy associated with the child at
the bottom of the arc. As she swings.

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Practice problem #1
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Practice problem #2

A 70 kg man is attached to a bungee cord with

an unstretched length of 15m. He jumps off a
bridge that is 50 m high. When jumping, his
cord stretches to 44m. The spring constant of
the cord is 71.8 N/m. What is his change in total
potential energy, relative to the water when the
man stops falling?

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Practice problem #2
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Section

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Assignment

57

Example 1: A tossed ball.

A physics student tosses a ball with a mass of

100 grams straight up. While she is throwing
the ball, she exerts a constant force of 3 N on
the ball over a vertical distance of 1 m. g= 10
m/s2
How much work did she do on the ball?
How much energy did she add to the system?
How much work did gravity do?
By how much did the systems potential energy
change?
What happened to the rest of the energy?

Example 2: Potential Energy

Practice Problem

A 0.60 kg basketball is dropped out of a window

that is 6.1 m above the ground. The ball is
caught by a person whose hands are 1.5 m
above the ground.
How much work is done on the ball by gravity?
What is the gravitational PE when it is
released?
What is the gravitation PE when it is caught?
How is the change in PE related to the work
done on the ball?

Potential Energy of a Spring

The work done in stretching a spring can be

found using the area underneath a force vs.
distance graph.

W Area under graph

W 12 bh
kx

W ( x)(kx) kx
1
2

1
2

PESpring kx
1
2

6-4 Notes
Conservation of Energy

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LAW OF CONSERVATION OF ENERGY

ENERGY CANNOT BE CREATED

OR DESTROYED, BUT IT CAN
BE CHANGED FROM ONE FORM
TO ANOTHER

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Mechanical Energy

The description of motion of objects involves the

combination of kinetic energy and potential energy.
Consider the motion of the different parts of a pendulum
clock.
At the highest point of the swing, there is only
gravitational potential energy associated with its
position
At the other points in the swing, when the pendulum is
in motion, it has both kinetic and potential energy.
Elastic potential energy is also present in many
springs that are part of the inner workings of the clock

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Mechanical Energy

Mechanical energy is the sum of kinetic

energy and all the forms of potential
energy associated with an object or group
of objects.

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For linear motion,

For gravity,
For springs,

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Conservation of Mechanical
Energy
Net work done on objects is the total work done which

changes the kinetic and potential of the objects

Wtotal KE KEtotal PE

But the forces doing this work are conservative. That

means, when they do work, potential energy decreases.
Thus, if the KE of the objects increases, the PE must
decrease.
KE PEwherePE W ( m gh) m gh

KE PE 0
( KE PE ) 0
ME 0
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Conservation of Mechanical
Energy

When only
internal,
conservative
forces do work on
a system, the total
mechanical energy
of the system does
not change.

Conservation of Mechanical
Energy

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Conservation of ME

Initial mechanical energy = Final mechanical

energy

Where friction is involved, the principal of

conservation of mechanical energy does not
hold because kinetic energy is not all converted
potential energy but some is lost to heat and
sound.

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Practice problem #1

A 6 m long ramp is used to bring carts up 3m

from the ground to a loading dock. A
careless worker lets go of a 200 kg cart at the
top of the ramp, and it rolls to the bottom.
How fast is the cart moving when it reaches
the bottom?

Practice problem #1
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ME( i ) top ME( f ) bottom

KE ( i ) top PE( i ) top KE ( f ) bottom PE( f ) bottom
2
1
f
2

0 mgh mv

2mgh
vf
m

S:
S:
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2 200 9.81 3
vf
200
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Assignment Question # 1

A bird is flying with a speed of 18 m/s over water

and drops a 2 kg fish. If the bird is 5.4 m high,
what is the speed of the fish when it hits the water?

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Assignment

6.4

Worksheet

1 6 due first thing in

class tomorrow

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75

Expanding the Work Energy

Theorem

If other forms of
energy transfer are
allowed, then the
Work-Energy
Theorem must be
expanded.

The First Law of Thermodynamics:

The Law of Conservation of Energy

Energy can neither be created or destroyed,

but can only be converted from one form to
another.

This law is also called the First Law of

Chapter 5-4
Power

Power

Power is the rate at which work is done.

More generally, power is the rate of energy
transfer by any method.
W
P
t

It is sometimes useful to rewrite the equation in

an alternative form by substituting the definition
of work into the definition of power
W F d

F d
P
t

Power and Speed

If

speed is known, we can

use an alternative power
formula.

P F v

Units
Units of power = watt (W)
Watt = 1 Joule / second
Horsepower is another unit of
power.
1 Horsepower = 746 Watts

Power Ratings
Machines with different power ratings
do the same work in different times.
The higher the rating, the more work
done in a set amount of time.
The important difference is that the
more powerful motors will do the
work in a shorter amount of time

Practice Problem #1

A motor is used to lift a load of lumber weighing

400 N to a height of 5 m in 10 s. What is the
minimum power the motor must produce?
G:
U:
W
P

E:

S:

t
F d
P
t
400 5
P
200 Watts
10

Practice problem #2

A rain cloud contains 2.66 x 107 kg of water vapor. How long

would it take a 2.00 kW pump to raise the same amount of
water to the clouds altitude, 2.00km?
G:
U:
E: P W
t

F d
t

m g d
P
t
S:
2.66 107 9.81 2000
t
2.61108 s
2000

Assignment
Power Worksheet # 1