DYNAMICS OF RIGID BODIES

Lecture Notes # 5

WORK AND ENERGY

Work-energy method is used particularly for solving problems involving force ,

displacement , and velocity .

A force F will do work on a particle only when the particle undergoes a displacement in the
direction of the force.

Work associated with three frequently occurring forces:

1. Work associated with a Constant External Force

Figure 1

Consider the constant force P applied to the body as it moves from position 1 to position 2
(as shown in Figure 1). With the force F and the displacement x written as vectors, the
work done on the body by the force is:

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Summer S.Y. 2014-2015
DYNAMICS OF RIGID BODIES
Lecture Notes # 5

2. Work associated with a Spring Force

We consider here the common linear spring of stiffness k (in N/m or lb/ft) where the force
required to stretch or compress the spring is proportional to the deformation x ( in meters
or feet) as shown in Figure 2.

Figure 2

The work done on the body by the force is:

3. Work associated with Weight

Figure 3

If the altitude variation is sufficiently small so that the acceleration of gravity g may be
considered constant, the work done by the weight W of the body shown in Figure 3 as the
body is displaced from an arbitrary altitude y1 to a final altitude y2 is:

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DYNAMICS OF RIGID BODIES
Lecture Notes # 5

PRINCIPLE OF WORK AND KINETIC ENERGY

The Kinetic Energy (KE) of the particle is the total work which must be done on the particle
to bring it from a state of rest to a velocity v. It is defined as:

Kinetic Energy is a scalar quantity with the units of N-m or joules (J) in SI units and ft-lb in
English units. Kinetic energy is always positive, regardless of the direction of velocity.

WORK-ENERGY EQUATION

Work-energy equation states that the total work done by all forces acting on a particle as it
moves from point A to point B equals the corresponding change in kinetic energy of the
particle.

POWER & EFFICIENCY

The capacity of a machine is rated by its power , which is defined as the time rate of doing
work.

Power is a scalar quantity, and in SI it has the units of N-m/s (Joule/s). The special unit for
power is the watt (W), which equals one joule per second (J/s). In English system, the unit
for mechanical power is the horsepower (hp). These units and their numerical
equivalences are:

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DYNAMICS OF RIGID BODIES
Lecture Notes # 5

The ratio of the work done by a machine to the work done on the machine during the same
time interval is called the mechanical efficiency (e) of the machine.

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DYNAMICS OF RIGID BODIES
Lecture Notes # 5

PRACTICE PROBLEMS:

1. A force of 200 lbf acts on a block at an angle of 28 with respect to horizontal. The block
is pushed 2 feet horizontally. What is the work done by this force?

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DYNAMICS OF RIGID BODIES
Lecture Notes # 5

2. A 4000-kg elevator starts from rest accelerates uniformly to a constant speed of 2 m/s
and decelerates uniformly to stop 20 m above its initial position. Neglecting the friction and
other losses, what work was done on the elevator?

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DYNAMICS OF RIGID BODIES
Lecture Notes # 5

3. What is the kinetic energy of a 4000-lbw automobile which is moving at 44 ft/s?

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DYNAMICS OF RIGID BODIES
Lecture Notes # 5

4. The average horsepower required to raise a 150-kg box to a height of 20 meters over a
period of one minute is what?

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DYNAMICS OF RIGID BODIES
Lecture Notes # 5

5. The 300-lbf block in the figure shown rests upon a level plane for which the coefficient of
kinetic friction is 0.20. Find the velocity of the block after it moves 80 ft, starting from rest.
If the 100-lb force is then removed, how much farther will it travel?

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DYNAMICS OF RIGID BODIES
Lecture Notes # 5

6. Calculate the velocity v of the 50-kg crate when it reaches the bottom of the chute at B if
it is given an initial velocity of 4 m/s down the chute at A. The coefficient of kinetic friction
is 0.30.

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DYNAMICS OF RIGID BODIES
Lecture Notes # 5

7. At the instant shown, an external force has pushed the 500-lb block against the spring,
thereby compressing the spring 6 inches. If the spring constant is 100 lb per in., how far
will the block be projected along the level plane (for which k = 0.20) when the external
force is released?

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DYNAMICS OF RIGID BODIES
Lecture Notes # 5

8. The spring is unstretched at the position x =0. Under the action of a force P, the cart
moves from the initial position x1 = -6 inches to the final position x 2 = 3 inches. Determine
(a) the work done on the cart by the spring and (b) the work done on the cart by its weight.

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DYNAMICS OF RIGID BODIES
Lecture Notes # 5

9. The platform P, shown in the figure below, has negligible mass and is tied down so that
the 0.4-m long cords keep a 1-m long spring compressed 0.6 m when nothing is on the
platform. If a 2 kg block is pushed down 0.1 m, determine the maximum height h the block
rises in the air, measured from the ground.

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Summer S.Y. 2014-2015