5.

6. The shock absorber would be a spring with a large force constant to absorb lots of energy quickly, combined with a slow
air release to prevent too much bouncing. The size would be suited to fit into the length of the forks. The forces involved
would mean the choice of a strong material, such as steel, for strength.

Try This Activity: Which Ball Wins?

(Page 177)

(a) The ball on track Y will win because it converts its gravitational energy into kinetic energy more quickly, and will speed
up more quickly than the ball on track X.
(b) The total energy of the balls remains constant down the track. The energy is just transformed from one type to another.

4.1 WORK DONE BY A CONSTANT FORCE

PRACTICE
(Pages 181–182)

Understanding Concepts
1. F1 will do more work than F2 because the component of F2 in the direction of motion is smaller than F1.
2. No. The force of kinetic friction is always acting opposite to the direction of motion. Since negative work is always
opposite the direction of motion, the kinetic friction will always do negative work.
3. Yes. The force of gravity can move an object toward itself, and therefore does positive work on that object.
4. m = 2.75 kg
(a) ∆d = 1.37 m
W=?
W = ( F cosθ )∆d
= (mg cos θ )∆d
= (2.75 kg)(9.80 N/kg)(cos 0°)(1.37 m)
W = 36.9 J
The work done to move the plant 1.37 m up is 36.9 J.
(b) ∆y = 1.07 m
µK = 0.549
W=?

First we must calculate the normal force acting on the potted plant:
ΣFy = ma y = 0
FN − Fg = 0
FN = Fg
= mg
= (2.75 kg)(9.80 N/kg)
FN = 26.95 N

Copyright © 2003 Nelson Chapter 4 Work and Energy 233

 Let FA be the applied force to move the potted plant horizontally:
ΣFx = ma x = 0
FA − FK = 0
FA = FK
= µ FN
= (0.549)(26.95 N)
FA = 14.796 N
To calculate the work done on the potted plant:
W = ( FA cos θ )∆d
= (14.796 N)(cos 0°)(1.07 m)
W = 15.8 J
The work done to move the plant 1.07 m across the shelf is 15.8 J.
5. m = 24.5 kg
G
F = 14.2 N [22.5° below the horizontal]
∆d = 14.8 m
W=?

We only need to consider the component of force in the direction of motion:

W = ( F cosθ )∆d
= (14.2 N)(cos 22.5°)(14.8 m)
W = 194 J
The work done by the force is 194 J.
G
6. FT = 12.5 N [19.5° above the horizontal]
W = 225 J
∆d = ?
W = ( F cos θ )∆d
W
∆d =
F cos θ
225 J
=
(12.5 N)(cos19.5°)
∆d = 19.1 m
The toboggan moves 19.1 m.
7. (a) We will calculate the area using the formula for a rectangle
A = lw
= (4.0 N)(2.0 m)
A = 8.0 J
The area represents the work done on the object.
(b) First calculate the area of the second portion of the graph:
A = lw
= (−4.0 N)(6.0 m − 2.0 m)
A = −8.0 J
The total work is 8.0 + (–8.0) = 0.0 J
(c) One situation could be pushing a box across a table and pulling it back.

Applying Inquiry Skills

8. You could set the pen on the paper and pull the paper across the desk. The force of static friction between the paper and
the pen is in the direction of motion, doing positive work on the pen.

Copyright © 2003 Nelson Chapter 4 Work and Energy 234

Understanding Concepts
9. Four different situations are:
• a book sitting on a desk (∆d = 0)
• a student carrying a book at a constant speed (θ = 90º)
• a teacher whirling a putty pat in a circle at the end of a string
• a toy car travelling in a circular path
10. (a) A box being pulled by string at an angle involves the forward component doing positive work, and the vertical
component doing zero work.

(b) A box being pulled up a ramp involves the parallel component of gravity doing negative work, and the perpendicular
component of gravity doing zero work.

Section 4.1 Questions

(Page 183)

Understanding Concepts
1. The everyday use of the word “work” is different from the usage in physics when it is referring to employment, or a duty
to perform. “Working” as a teacher involves very little physical work. The physics definition of work means the transfer
of energy to an object to move it a certain distance. Many types of employment or daily activities involve physical work.
For example, the sentence “Loading the cement bags onto the truck was a lot of work,” uses the word “work” similar to
the physics definition of work.
2. The centripetal force is always directed toward the centre of the circle, and is by definition perpendicular to the motion of
the object. The 90º angle means that work is not done on the object by the centripetal force.
3. As you push on a wall, you are exerting a force, which involves the use of energy. Even though no physical work is being
done, your muscles are still burning your body’s fuel, causing you to become tired.
4. Assuming the classroom to be 4 m tall, and the student to have a mass of 70 kg:
W = ( F cosθ )∆d
= ( mg cos θ ) ∆d
= (70 N)(9.80 N/kg)(cos 0°)(4.0 m)
W = 3.0 × 103 J
It would take about 3.0 ¯ 103 J, or 3.0 kJ of work to climb the ladder.
G
5. FA = 75 N [22° below the horizontal]
G
FT = 75 N [32° above the horizontal]

Copyright © 2003 Nelson Chapter 4 Work and Energy 235

 (a) The work done by the boy (WB):
WB = ( FT cos θ )∆d
= (75 N)(cos 32°)(13 m)
WB = 826.8 J

The work done by the girl (WG):

WG = ( FA cos θ )∆d
= (75 N)(cos 22°)(13 m)
WG = 904.0 J

The total work done:

Wtotal = WB + WG
= 828.8 J + 904.0 J
Wtotal = 1.73 × 103 J
The total amount of work done on the crate is 1.7 ¯ 10–3 J.
(b) The crate is moving at a constant speed, so it is not gaining any energy. This means that the crate will have the same
amount of energy before and after the move, so it must have work done on it opposite the direction of motion.
Therefore, the work done on the crate by the floor is –1.7 ¯ 103 J.
6. W = 9.65 ¯ 102 J
∆d = 45.3 m
G
F = 24.1 N [parallel to the handle of the sleigh]
θ=?
W = ( F cosθ )∆d
W
cos θ =
F ∆d
 W 
θ = cos −1  
 F ∆d 
 965 J 
= cos −1  
 (24.1 N)(45.3 m) 
θ = 27.9°
The angle between the snowy surface and the handle is 27.9º.
7. (a) ∆d = 38 m
m = 66 kg
G
FA = 58 N [18° above the horizontal]
FN = ?
µK = ?

First we must calculate the normal force:

ΣFy = ma y = 0
FN + FA sin18° − Fg = 0
FN = Fg − FA sin18°
= mg − FA sin18°
= (66 kg)(9.80 N/kg) − (58 N) sin18°
FN = 628.88 N

Copyright © 2003 Nelson Chapter 4 Work and Energy 236

 We then calculate the force of gravity:
ΣFx = ma x = 0
FA cos18° − FK = 0
FK = FA cos18°
= (58 N) cos18°
FK = 55.161 N

The coefficient of kinetic friction is:

F
µK = K
FN
55.161 N
=
628.88 N
µK = 0.088
The normal force is 6.3 ¯ 102 N, and the coefficient of kinetic friction between the toboggan and the snow is 0.088.
(b) W = ?
W = ( F cosθ )∆d
= (55.161 N)(cos180°)(38 m)
W = −2.1× 103 J
The work done by kinetic friction is –2.1 ¯ 103 J.
(c) The normal force, the gravitational force, and the vertical component of the applied force do no work on the toboggan.
(d) ∆d = 25 m
W=?
W = ( F cos θ )∆d
= (58 N)(cos18°)(25 m)
W = 1.4 × 103 J
The work done by the parent is 1.4 ¯ 103 J.

Applying Inquiry Skills

8. As shown below, the graph indicates that the work done on a object is positive for angles less than 90º, zero for angles
equal to 90º, and negative for angles between 90º and 180º.

Making Connections
9. Work done by friction has the effect of heating up the environment. Most forms of energy usually end up as thermal
energy.

4.2 KINETIC ENERGY AND THE WORK–ENERGY THEOREM

PRACTICE
(Pages 186–187)

Understanding Concepts
1. The kinetic energy of a moving object is related to both the mass and the velocity. If the mass of the truck is large enough,
a slow moving truck can have more kinetic energy than a fast moving car.

Copyright © 2003 Nelson Chapter 4 Work and Energy 237