HONORS – Ch 5 – Work & Energy

Reading: Sections 4.1-4.6; pp 103-131

HW pg 171-178 # 2, 6, 8, 10, 16, 24, 30, 36, 44, 54, 72, 79, 86, 92, 106 (from CH 6 # 4, 60, 61, 70)
Labs: Conservation of Energy: Potential to Kinetic, Spring Potential, Making the Grade, Keeping in
Balance, Sliding Friction and Energy

Mechanical Work on an object is the product of the magnitudes of the component of force exerted
parallel to the displacement of the object. If there is no displacement, then there is no work done.
Likewise, if the force is perpendicular to the direction of the displacement, no work is done on the
object. The general equation of work is

W = F║x = ( Fcos θ)x where θ is the angle between the force and displacement
vectors.

Work is measured as a Nּm, or Joule (J). (1 foot-lb is equal to 1.36 J)

*Work is a scalar quantity, and is equal to the area under a Force vs. Displacement graph. It can have
either a positive or negative value, depending on whether the force is applied in the same direction of
or opposing the direction of the displacement, and thus it can simply be added or subtracted. The total,
or net, work done by all of the forces is simply the scalar sums of all of the quantities of work.
Obviously, if there is no net force on an object, there is no net work done on the object.

Sometimes forces are not constant, but are variable, or changing. The force exerted by a spring can be
calculated using Hooke’s Law: FS = -kx, where k is the spring constant. The stronger the spring the
greater is the spring constant. The negative represents the restoring force of the spring F caused by the
displacement x. Since it is variable, the work done in compressing or stretching a spring is equal to the
average force exerted, or
F kx 1
WS = F x = S x = x ⇒ WS = kx 2
2 2 2 (stretch/compress from xo = 0)

Work is something that is done on objects, but Energy is something that the objects have.
Energy is the ability to do work.

Kinetic Energy is energy of motion, and can be found by: K = ½ mv2

Potential Energy is energy by virtue of position, or stored energy. There are many types of potential
energy – chemical, electrical, etc., but we are only interested in the two types of potential energy,
specifically

Spring potential: Us = ½ kx2 where k is the spring constant and x is displacement

from equilibrium position
Gravitational potential: Ug = mgy where y is vertical displacement

Work – Energy Theorem: The net work done on a body by all forces is equal to the change in
kinetic energy, or
Wnet = ΔK = Kf – Ko = ½ mvf2 – ½ mvo2 = ½ m(vf2 – vo2)

*If Wnet increases K, then it is (+), but if it decreases K, then it is ( - ). K is scalar, but ΔK can be ( - ).

Law of Conservation of Energy – the total energy of the universe (or of an isolated system) is
remains unchanged, i.e. energy cannot be created or destroyed, just change from one form to another.

Conservation of mechanical energy means that the sum of the potential and kinetic energies is constant
in a conservative system (meaning no energy is lost from the system, such a through heat of friction).
(In a non-conservative system, mechanical energy is lost). Mathematically,

ΣKf + ΣUf = ΣKo + ΣUo

Power is the rate at which work is done, and is measured in Joules/second, or Watts (W)
(1 horsepower = 746 Watts)

E W Fx x F ( cosθ ) x
P= = = = F = Fv P= = F (cosθ )v
t t t t [ equivalently, t ]

Simple Machines – devices used to help us do work by one of three methods

1. multiply force
2. change direction of the force
3. multiply speed/distance
Simple machines operate on the concept that work you put in will equal the work you get out, or

Win = Wout → Findin = Foutdout

There are three types of simple machines that we will look at: levers, pulleys, and inclines.
1. Levers – levers have three main components: resistance(thing moved), force(effort), and fulcrum
1st class – fulcrum in the middle (multiplies force, speed, and changes direction)
2nd class – resistance in the middle (multiplies force)
3rd class – force(effort) in the middle (multiplies speed)
2. Pulleys –More pulleys allow you exert more force, but at a loss of distance moved.
3. Inclines – sometimes called a ramp. The distance in and force in are along the surface of the ramp.
The distance out and force out (usually just the Ug ) of the object raised.

(Other types of simple machines consist of wedges, wheel and axle, and screws, which are just
variations of the previously mentioned three)

How much a machine multiples the force is called the Mechanical Advantage. There are two types:
Ideal Mechanical Advantage (IMA – neglecting any friction) and Actual Mechanical Advantage
(AMA – the actual advantage realized). They are found as follows:

d in Fout
IMA = AMA =
d out Fin

Ideally, all machines would be 100% efficient, but that is not the case. The efficiency of a machine is
expressed as the ratio of useful work output to the total work input, or

E W P AMA 
ε =  out = out = out =  x100
 Ein Win Pin IMA 

Machines that are 100% efficient ( or more) would be called a perpetual motion machine, and they
cannot exist. (Compound Machines are machines that consist of 2 or more simple machines. The
mechanical advantage of a compound machine is just the product of the simple machines of which it is
made. Examples would be a bicycle pedal, sprocket, and chain.)