Chapter 4:

WORK, ENERGY AND POWER

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Chapter outline :
4.1 4.2 WORK APPLICATIONS OF WORK EQUATION FOR CONSTANT FORCE ENERGY

4.3

4.4 PRINCIPLE OF CONSERVATION OF ENERGY 4.5 4.6 POWER MECHANICAL EFFICIENCY

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Objectives :
Define work done by a force, dW=Fds and use the force – displacement graph
(straight line case). Define energy, kinetic energy and potential energy and use
the formula for kinetic energy ½mv2, gravitational potential energy mgh and
elastic potential energy for spring ½kx2 Understand the work-energy theorem and
use the related equation. State and use the principle of Conservation of Energy,
and solve problems regarding conversion between kinetic and potential energy. To
define power, P=W/t , derive and use the formula P=F.v To understand the concept
of mechanical efficiency and the concequences of dissipated heat,
ek=Woutput/Winput.
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4.1 Work
Definition of work done by a constant force : product of the magnitude of the
force and the displacement of the body in the direction of the force. or scalar
(dot) product between force and displacement of the body.
F

Equation of work :

  W = F•s
W  Fs cos 

)θ

F cos θ

where , F : magnitude of force s : displacement of the body   θ : the angle

between F and s • Scalar quantity • Dimension : [W] = ML2T-2 • SI unit : kg m2 s-2
or joule (J) or N m 1 kg m2 s-2 = 1 N m = 1 J One joule is the work done by a
force of 1 N which 4 results in a displacement of 1 m in the direction of the
force.
Work done by a varying force : F/N

W   Fds
s1

s2

0 si

sf

s/m

W  area under the force-displacement graph

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4.2 Applications of work equation for constant force. Case 1 :  Work done by a
horizontal force, F on an object: W  Fsθ cos ; where  =0o

 W  Fs

 F

Case 2 :  Work done by a horizontal forces, F1 and  F2 on an object:

 s

F1

 F2

 s
W1 = F1 s cos 0  and

∑W =( F + F ) s  W   Fnet  s
1 2

∑W =W

+ W2 = ( F1 s + F2 s )

W2 = F2 s cos 0 

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Case 3 :  Work done by a vertical force, F on an  object:

θ = 90

W = Fs cos θ  W 0J

 s

Case 4 :  Work done by a force, F and the friction  force, f on an object:

 f
W = ( Fnet ) s

)θ

 s
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W = ( F cos θ − f ) s

 W  mas
• Notes :

Work done on an object is zero if :

(i) F = 0 (ii) s = 0

(iii) θ = 90o

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4.2 Applications of work equation for constant force.
Sign convention :

W = Fs cos θ
0°<θ <90° (acute angle) 90°<θ <180° (obtuse angle)

W > 0 (positive)

W < 0 (negative)

work is being done on the system ( by the external force)

work is being done by the system

energy is transferred to the system.

energy is transferred from the system.

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4.1 & 4.2

Conclusion :
 Work done by constant force:

W = Fs cos θ
 Work done by a varying force:

W 

s2

s1

Fds

 Force-displacement graph :

W = area under the graph

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4.3 Energy
• Definition : system’s ability to do work. • dimension : [energy] = [work] =
ML2T-2 • SI unit : kg m2 s-2 or joule (J) • Scalar quantity.

Forms of Energy Chemical Electrical

Description Energy released when chemical bonds between atoms and molecules are
broken. Energy that is associated with the flow of electrical charge. Energy
transmitted through the propagation of a series of compression and refaction in
solid, liquid or gas.

Sound Mechanical a. Kinetic

Energy associated with the motion of a body. b. Gravitational Energy associated

with the position of a body in a gravitational field. potential Energy stored in a
compressed or 12 c. Elastic stretched spring. potential
Forms of Energy Heat Internal Nuclear

Description Energy that flows from one place to another as a result of a

temperature difference. Sum of kinetic and potential energy of atoms or molecules
within a body. Energy released by the splitting of heavy nuclei. Energy released
when there is a loss of small amount of mass in a nuclear process. The amount of
energy can be calculated from Einstein’s mass-energy equation, E = mc2 Energy
associated with infra-red radiation.

Mass

Radiant Heat

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4.3.1 Kinetic Energy
• Definition: energy of a body due to its motion. • Equation : 1 K = mv 2 where; K
= kinetic energy 2 m = mass of a body v = speed of a body

Work-kinetic energy theorem : “The work done by the net force on a body equals the
change in the kinetic energy of the body’

W = ∆K
Prove :

F  F  m a m


 F  s

v 2s

v

2 0

2 v 2  vo ; where a  2s

1 1 2 2 Fs = mv − mv0 2 2  K f - K i  W   K

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4.3.2 Gravitational Potential Energy, U
Definition : – energy stored in a body or system because of its position. Equation
:

U = mgh
where; U = gravitational potential energy m = mass of a body g = acceleration due
to gravity h = height of a body from the initial position Work-gravitational
potential energy theorem : “The work done by the net force on a body equals the
change in the gravitational potential energy of the body”

W  U

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• Derivation of W = ∆U :

Consider a body of mass m being lifted from a height h2 to a height h1 :

h= h1 – h2 h1 h2

Work done by the gravitational force,

Wg  mgh  mg  h1  h2   mgh1  mgh2

 U f Ui

 W  U

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4.3.3 Elastic Potential Energy, Us
Definition : energy stored in an elastic materials as the result of their
stretching or compressing. Equation :

1 2 1 U s = kx = Fs x 2 2

where; Us = elastic potential energy k = spring constant x = extension or

compression of the spring Fs = restoring force of spring • Dimension of the spring
constant, k :

[ Fs ] = MT −2 [k] = [ x]

SI unit : kg s-2 or N m-1

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Consider a spring is stretched by a force F :

Hooke’s Law : “The restoring force, Fs of spring is directly proportional to the

amount of extension or compression, x if the limit of proportionality is not
exceeded”

Fs ∝ − x

where ;

 Fs   kx

Fx = the restoring force of spring x = extension or compression (xf - xi) k =

spring constant or force constant -ve sign : direction of Fs is always opposite to
the direction of the amount of 18 extension or compression, x.
A graph of F against x : F (x) The work done by the force F is equal to the area
under the straight-line graph ; x x

1 W  Fx 2 1  (kx) x 2 1 2 W  kx 2

Work-elastic potential energy theorem : “The work done to overcome the elasticity
of the spring equals the change in elastic potential”

W  U s

 U sf  U si
1 2 1 2  kx f  kxi 2 2
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• Determining the spring constant, k : Case 1 :  The spring is hung vertically and
it is stretched by a suspended object of mass m :

Initial position Final position

 Fs   W = mg

The spring is in equilibrium ;

  Fs  W  mg  kx

mg  k x
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Case 2 :  The spring is attached to an object and it is stretched and compressed
by a force F:
Fs is negative, x is positive

 Fs
x x=0 Fs = 0 x=0

 F

(Equilibrium position) x=0

 F
x

 Fs

Fs is positive, x is negative

x=0

The spring is in equilibrium ;

  Fs  F  kx F  k x

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Conclusion :
Formula for energy :  Kinetic energy

 Gravitational potential energy

1 K = mv 2 2

U = mgh
 Elastic potential energy

1 2 1 U s = kx = Fs x 2 2
 Work-energy theorem:

W = ∆K

and

W  U
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4.4 Principle of Conservation of Energy
State ; “ The total energy in an isolated (closed) system is conserved (constant)”

∑E = ∑E
i

Total of initial energy

Total of final energy

Conservation of mechanical energy (without friction) :

 E  K  U  constant
Ki + U i = K f + U f

or

Conservation of mechanical energy (with friction) :

K i + U i + Wother = K f + U f
work done by the frictional force or losses of energy.
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4.5 Power
Definition : rate of doing work or rate at which energy is transferred
• Average power , Pave ;

Pave

W E   t t

• Instantaneous power, P ;

Scalar quantity. Dimension :

∆W dW P = limit = ∆t →0 ∆t dt

[ ∆W ] = ML2T −2 [ P] = [ ∆t ] T

= ML T
2

−3

• SI unit : kg m2 s-3 or J s-1 or watt (W)

Other unit : horsepower (hp) 24 1 hp = 550 ft.lb s-1 = 746 watts

Relation of P, F and v ; Consider the net force F applied to an object and its
velocity v :

dW P dt  F cos   ds  dt

   P  F v

 Fv cos 

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4.6 Mechanical efficiency (ek or η )
Definition : – ratio of the useful work done, Wout to the energy input, Ein

Wout ek   100% Ein

or
– ratio of the useful power output, Pout to

the power input, Pin

Pout ek   100% Pin

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Conclusion :
Conservation of energy :

4.4, 4.5 & 4.6

In an isolated (closed) system, the total energy of that system is constant.  Use
,

 Ei   E f
 Power :

in solving problems regarding conservation of energy

and

W E Pav   t t

P  Fv cos 

Mechanical efficiency :

Wout ek   100% Ein

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THE END…
Next Chapter…
CHAPTER 5 : Static

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