Workshop 9: Energy and Work

Energy

Def: the ability to do work

Unit: Joule J Nm
Types of energy o Kinetic energy (K) ability to do work due to motion o Potential energy (U)
ability to work due to position
o Mechanical energy (E) K + U
Holds for any moving object, given no non-conservative forces do work (see below)
Total energy of the universe is always conserved
All types of energy are interconvertible
K mv2

Kinetic energy (general)

U = mgh

Potential energy due to gravity near earths surface (uniform gravity)

Potential energy due to gravity far from m1 or m2 (general)

U = kx2

Potential energy of a spring at position x distance from equilibrium

Work

Def: A force does work when applied to a moving object during displacement
Unit: J Nm

General definition of work

WTotal = K

Work-Energy Theorem (general)

=
Special case: Constant , displacement in straight line
Fdcos
Special case: Variable , displacement in straight line
Example: Conservation of energy

Conservative vs. Non-conservative forces

Conservative
Electromagnetic
Buoyant
Gravity
Spring

Non-conservative Def: A
force is
Friction
Drag
Tension
Normal

conservative if the work it does between two points

is path-independent

Multiple Choice
1.
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
G.

Which of the following is equivalent to the unit of a Joule?

kg m/s
kg2m2/s2
kgm2/s2
s2m2/kg
sm2/kg2
s2/m2kg
m/skg2

2. Suppose a block is on verge of slipping on an inclined plane at 40o. Find the coefficient of static
friction on the plane surface.
A. Not enough information to solve this problem
B. 0.11
C. 0.64
D. 0.77
E. 0.84
F. 1.02 G. 1.55

3. Suppose you are pushing a box up an inclined plane with s and k. How much force do you need
to apply in order to move the box at a constant velocity of 3 m/s?
A. F = W// + k W
B. F = W// + s W
C. F = k W// + W
D. F = s W// + W
E. F = k (W// + W)
F. F = s (W// + W)

4. A 100cm3 wooden block is partially submerged in water and displaces 50N of water. The buoyant
force upon the block is __________. Now, you grab the block and move it 5m under water. The
work done on the block by the buoyant force is __________.
A. 10N up, 250J
B. 10N down, 250J
C. 10N up, 250J
D. 10N down, 250J
E. 50N up, 250J
F. 50N down, 250J
G. 50N up, 250J
H. 50N down, 250J

Free response
5. Suppose a 10.0kg box slides down a frictionless 25.0m plane inclined 35o from the horizontal. How
much work is done by gravity?

6. A block is attached to a spring. The force exerted by the spring is F(x) = 4x2 6x +1, where x is the
displacement of the block from the equilibrium position. Find the work done by the spring when the
box moves from x = 1m to the equilibrium position. Find the spring constant k with appropriate
unit.

7. A worker does 500 J of work on a 10 kg box. If the box transfers 375 J of heat to the floor through
the friction between the box and the floor, what is the velocity of the box after the work has been
done on it?