Chapter 5

Work and Energy

Important Terms:

Work = the product of the magnitudes of the displacement and the component of the
force parallel to the displacement

Joule (unit) = the SI unit of Newton meters

Spring Constant (Force Constant) = constant of proportionality

Kinetic Energy = the energy of motion

Work-Energy Theorem = the net work done on a body by an external net force is equal
to the change in kinetic energy of the body.

Potential Energy = energy of position

Gravitational Potential Energy = a type of potential energy which refers to the height
of an object above some reference point

Law of Conservation of Total Energy = the total energy of an isolated system is always
conserved

Conservative Force = if the work done by or against it in moving an object is

independent of the object’s path

Non-conservative Force = depend on path

Total Mechanical Energy = the sum of the kinetic and potential energies

Conservative System = one in which only conservative forces do work

Law of Conservation of Mechanical Energy = in a conservative system, the sum of all

types of kinetic energy and potential energy is constant and equals the total mechanical
energy of the system

Power = rate of doing work

Watt (unit) = the SI power unit

Horsepower = a larger British unit of power

Efficiency = a measure of what you get out for what you put
Important Equations:

Work
W =( FCosθ )d
Where:W = work
F = force
D = distance

Hooke’s Law (Spring Force)

F S=−kx
Where:FS =
k=
x=

Work Done in Stretching or Compressing a Spring (from Equilibrium)

W = 1/2kx2

Kinetic Energy
K = 1/2 mv2
Where:K = kinetic energy
m = mass
v = velocity

Work – Energy Theorem

W = Kf – Ki

Elastic (Spring) Potential Energy

U = 1/2kx2

Gravitational Potential Energy

U = mgh

Conservation of Mechanical Energy

1/2mvf2 + Uf = 1/2mvi2 + Ui

Conservation of Energy
WNC = Ef – Ei = ΔE

Average Power
P = W/t = Fd/t = Fv = FdCosθ/t

Efficiency
ε = Wout/Ein x 100 = Pout/Pin x 100
Example 1: A student holds her psychology textbook, which has a mass of 1.5kg, out of
a second – story dormitory window until her arm is tired, and then she releases it. How
much work is done on the book by the student in simply holding it out the window? How
much work will have been done by the force of gravity during the time in which the book
falls 3.0m?
Given: b . W wg =?
m=1.5 kg
S y =3.0 m Solution:
a . W w =FS=1.5 ( 9.81 ) ( 0 )=0 J
Required:
a . W w =?
b . W wg =FS=1.5 ( 9.81 )( 3 ) =44.15 J
Example 2: If the person pushes on the lawn mower with a constant force of 90N at an
angle of 40o to the horizontal, how much work does she do in pushing it a horizontal
distance of 7.50m?

Given: F = 90N
F=90 N
S=7.5m 40o
θ=40 °

Required: 7.5m
a . W w =?

Solution:
a . W w =FS=90 cos 40 ( 7.5 )=517.08 J

Example 3: A 0.75kg block slides with a uniform velocity down a 20o inclined plane.
How much work is done by the force of friction on the block as it slides the total length
of the plane? What is the net work done on the block? What happens if the angle of
incline is adjusted so that the block accelerates down the plane?

Given: 0.7
m=0.75 kg 5kg
S=1.2m
θ=20 ° 20o

Required:
a . W wf =?

b . W wt =? 1.2m
Solution:
W = (0.75)(9.81) = 7.36
Wy = 7.36Cos20 = 6.92 N = NF
uk = Tan 20 = 0.36
f = 0.36 (6.92) = 2.49 N

W wf =2.49 ( cos1.220 )=−3.18 J

Wx = 7.36Sin 20 = 2.52 N
W done Wx =2.52 ( 1.2
cos 20 )
=3.22 J
W net = Wdone,x + Wf = 3.22 + (- 3.18) = 0.04 J

Example 4: A 0.15kg mass is suspended from a vertical spring and descends a distance
of 4.6cm, after which it hangs at rest. An additional 0.50kg mass is then suspended from
the first. What is the total extension of the spring?
Given:
M1 = 0.15 kg F = kx
X1 = 4.6 cm = 0.046 m -1.47 = k (-0.046 m)
M2 = 0.50 kg k = 31.96 N/m

Required: F = 0.65 (-9.81) = -6.38 N

Xt = ?
F = kx
Solution: -6.38 = 31.96 (XT)
F = W = mg = (0.15) (-9.81) = -1.47 N XT = -0.20 m = -20 cm

Example 5: A shuffleboard player pushes a 0.25kg puck, initially at rest, such that a
constant horizontal force of 6.0N acts on it through a distance of 0.50m. What are the
kinetic energy and the speed of the puck when the force is removed? How much work
would be required to bring the puck to rest?
Given:
m = 0.25 kg Solution:
Vi = 0 m/s a . W W =FS=6 ( 0.5 )=3 J =K . E .
F=6N
S = 0.5 m 2 2
b . K . E .=0.5 m(V f −V i )
2 2
3=0.5(0.25)(V f −0 )
Required:
V f =√ ❑
a . KE=?
b . v =? 2 2
c .W w =? c . K . E .=0.5 m(V f −V i )

K . E .=0.5 ( 0.25 ) ( 02−4.902 )=−3 J

Example 6: A car traveling at 5.0m/s speeds up to 10m/s, with an increase in kinetic

energy that requires work. Then, the speed is increased from 10m/s to 15m/s, requiring
work. How do the amounts of work compare?
Given: V 3=15 m/ s
V 1=5 m/s Required:
V 2=10 m/ s
∆ KE 2
=?
∆ KE 1
Solution:
2 2
∆ KE 2 0.5 m (V 3 −V 2) 0.5 m( 152−102 )
= = =1.67
∆ KE 1 0.5 m (V 22−V 21) 0.5 m( 102−52 )

Example 7: A 0.50kg ball is thrown vertically upward with an initial velocity of 10m/s.
What is the change in the ball’s kinetic energy between the starting point and its
maximum height? What is the change in the ball’s potential energy between its starting
point and the maximum height?

Given:
Vf = 0 m/s
Vf = 0m/s
Vi = 10 m/s
m = 0.5 kg

Required:
a . ∆ KE=?
b . ∆ PE=?
10m/s
Solution:
a . ∆ KE=0.5 m(V 2f −V 2i )
a . ∆ KE=0.5 ( 0.5 ) ( 02−102 ) =−25 J
2 2
b . V f =V i +2 gy
02 =102+ 2 (−9.81 ) ( y max ⁡)
100
y max ⁡= =5.1 m
2( 9.81)

∆ PE=mg(h f −h i)
∆ PE=0.5 ( 9.81 )( 5.1−0 )=25 J

Example 8: A painter on a scaffold drops a 1.50kg can of paint from a height of 6.0m.
What is the kinetic energy of the can when it is at a height of 4.0m? With what speed
will the can hit the ground?
Given: m = 1.50kg
h = 6.0m Required:
Vi = 0m/s a . ∆ KE=? @h=4 m
b . v =?
Solution:
v 2f =v 2i +2 gy
2 2
v f =0 +2 (−9.81 )(−2 )=39.24
V f =6.26 m/s

∆ KE=0.5 m ( V 2f −V 2i )
∆ KE=0.5 (1.50 ) ( 6.26 −0 ) =29.39 J
2 2

Wk =∆ KE +∆ PE
FS=0.5 ( m ) ( v f 2 −v 2i ) +mg(h f −hi )
0=0.5 ( 1.5 ) ( v f 2−02 ) + 1.5(9.81)(0−6)
V f =√ ❑

Example 9: A 0.30kg mass sliding on a

horizontal frictionless surface with a speed of 2.5m/s strikes a light spring that has a
spring constant of 3.0 x 103N/m. What is the total mechanical energy of the system?
What is the kinetic energy of the mass when the spring is compressed a distance of 1cm?

Given:
3
k =3.0 x 10 N /m
m=0.3 kg
v=2.5 m/ s
x 1=1 cm=0.01 m

Required:
a . TME=?
b . KE=?

Solution:
2 2
a . TME=0.5 m v =0.5 ( 0.3 ) ( 2.5 ) =0.94 J

b . KE=TME−0.5 k x 2=0.94−0.5 ( 3.0 x 103 ) ¿

Example 10: A skier with a mass of 80kg starts from rest and skis down a slope from an
elevation of 110m. The speed of the skier at the bottom of the slope is 20m/s. Show that
the system is non-conservative. How much work is done by the non-conservative force
of friction?
Given: V f =20 m/s
m=80 kg h f =0 m
V i=0 m/ s
hi =110 m Required:
W k =?
Solution:
W k =∆ KE+∆ PE
W k =0.5 ( m ) ( v f 2−v 2i ) +mg( hf −hi )
2 2
W k =0.5(80)(20 −0 )+ 80(9.81)(0−110)=−70 328 J

Example 11: A crane hoist lifts a load of 1metric ton a vertical distance of 25m in 9s at a
constant velocity. How much useful work is done by the hoist each second?
Given: t=9 s
m=1 metric ton=1000 kg
h=25 m Required:
P=?

Solution:
W FS WS ( 1000 ) ( 9.81 ) (25 ) J
P= k = = = =27250 =27250 W
t t t 9 s

Example 12: The motors of two vacuum cleaners have net power outputs of 1hp and
0.5hp, respectively. How much work in joules can each motor do in 3min? How long
does it take for each motor to do 97kj of work?
Given: W k =97 KJ=97,000 J
746 J / s
Po 1=1 Hp x =746 J / s
1 Hp Required:
746 J /s a . W k =?
Po 2=0.5 Hpx =373 J /s
1 Hp
60 s
t=3 mins x =180 s
1 min
b . t=?
Solution:

Wk
P= ;W k =Pt
t
W k 1=746 ( 180 )=134,280 J
W k 2=373 ( 180 )=67,140 J

Wk W 97000
P= ;t = k t 1= =130.03 s
t P 746
97000
t 2= =260.05 s
373
Example 13: The motor of an electric drill with an efficiency of 80% has a power input
of 60W. How much useful work is done by the drill in a time of 30s?

Given:
% eff =80 %=0.8
Pi=60 W
t=30 s

Required:
W k =?

Solution:
P
eff = o ; P o=eff ( Pi)
Pi
J
Po =eff ( Pi ) =0.8 ( 60 )=48 W =48
s
Wk J
P= ;W k =Pt =48 ( 30 s )=1440 J
t s

Example 14: Determine the potential energy, kinetic energy and total energy of a 1kg
ball initially at rest 50m above the ground and release at a height of 40m, 30m, 20m, 10m
and 0m.
Given:
m=1 kg Required:
V i=0 m/ s PE=?
hi =50 m KE=?

ME=? Solution:
2 2
V f =V i +2 gy=0+2(−9.81)( y)
U =PE=mgh
2
KE=½ mV f
ME=KE + PE
2
height y Vf KE PE ME
50 0 0 0 490.5 490.5
40 -10 196.2 98.1 392.4 490.5
30 -20 392.4 196.2 294.3 490.5
20 -30 588.6 294.3 196.2 490.5
10 -40 784.8 392.4 98.1 490.5
0 -50 981.0 490.5 0 490.5
Example 15: A block at a bottom of a plane inclined at one angle of 37ْ above the
horizontal is initially at rest. A force,”P”, pulls the block up the plane covering a distance
of 30m with a final velocity of 20m/s. (mass = 1 kg). Determine: a.) PE i, b) PEf, c) KEi,
d) KEf, e) ΔPE, f) ΔKE, g.)TIE, h.)TFE
Given: V f =20 m/s
m=1 kg h f =30 sin 37=18.05
θ=37 °
V i=0 m/ s Required:
hi =0 m a . PEi=?
b . PE f =? e . ∆ PE=?
c . KE i =? f . ∆ KE =?
d . KE f =? h . TIE=?

i .TFE=?
Solution:

a . PE i=mg hi=1 ( 9.81 ) ( 0 )=0 J

b . PE f =mg hf =1 ( 9.81 )( 18.05 )=177.11 J
2 2
c . KE i =0.5 mV i =0.5 ( 1 ) ( 0 ) =0 J
d . KE f =0.5 mV 2f =0.5 ( 1 ) ( 20 )2=200 J
e . ∆ PE=PE f −PE i=177.11−0=177.11 J
f . ∆ KE =KE f − KEi =200−0=200 J
g .TIE=PE i + KE i=0+ 0=0 J
h . TFE=PE f + KE f =177.11+200=377.11 J

SIMPLE MECHANICAL MACHINE

A force is needed to move a given load, Effort when the load (W) moves through the
distance (Sw) & the effort (E) also move through the distance (Se).

Relationship

Se
1] IMA= Sw
W
2] AMA= E
3] Wo=W × Sw
4] W i =E× Se
Wo W ( SW ) W / E AMA
5] % eff .= Wi = E( Se) = Se /Sw = IMA

IMA of some Simple Machines

1] Compound wheels & axle

2c
IMA=
b−a

C = radius of the largest wheel

B = radius of the larger wheel
A = radius of the smallest wheel

2] Simple wheel & axle

2 πR R
IMA= =
2 πr r
 R = radius of wheel
r = radius of axle

3] Inclined plane
length of plane
IMA=
ht . of plane

4] Pulley
Se
IMA= =1
Sw

5] Pulley system
no . of stands
IMA=
strings

Example 1. A force of 50N is needed to raise a 25kg load to height of 10m using the
pulley system, the load goes up 1m in every 5m of rope pulled from the pulley.
Determine: IMA, AMA, % eff, Work input and work lost
Given: Required:
E = 50N a. IMA
m = 25kg b. AMA
h = 10m c. %Eff
ratio: 1:5 d. Winput
e. Wlost
Solution:
Se 5 50
a . IMA= = = =5
Sw 1 10

W mg 25× 9.81
b . AMA= = = =4.905
E E 50

4.905
c . % eff = × 100=98.1%
5

d .W i=E Se =50 ×50=2500 J

W o =W S W =25 ( 9.81 )(10)=2452.5 J

e .W L =( 1−eff ) ( W i ) =( 1−0.981 ) (2500)=47.5 J

or
W L =W i−W o=2500−2452.5=47.5 J

Example 2. An inclined plane is 15m long at 3m high. Det. a] IMA b] AMA & c] % eff.
if a 300N force is required to slide 100kg box up the plane.
Given:
L=15 m Required:
h=3 m a. IMA
E=300 N b. AMA
m=100 kg c. % Eff

Solution:
L 15
a . IMA= = =5
H 3

W 100(9.81)
b . AMA= = =3.27
E 300

3.27
c . % eff = (100)=65.4 %
5

Example 3. A wheel has radii of 20cm. & 5cm. if it is 90% efficient and used to lift a
100kg load to a height of 20m. Solve for: a. E, b. Se, c. Wi, d. Wo, e. Wl
Given:
R=20 cm
r =5 cm
eff =0.9
m=100 kg
ht=S w =20 m

Required:
a. E
b. Se
c. Wi
d. Wo
e. Wl
Solution:
R 20
IMA= = =4
r 5

AMA AMA
Eff = ;0.9= ; AMA=0.9 ( 4 )=3.6
IMA 4

W 100(9.81) 100 (9.81)

a . AMA= ;3.6= ; E= =272.5 N
E E 3.6

Se Se
b . IMA= =4= ; S e =4 ( 20 )=80 m
Sw 20

c .W i=E S e =272.5(80)=21800 J

d .W o=W S w =100 ( 9.81 ) (20)=19620 J

e .W L =W i−W o=21800−19620=2180 J
Name:
Section:

Solve for net work in each problem.

1.
μ=0.03

F = 250N
m = 50kg

S = 5m

2. μ = 0.025

P = 500N
40o
m = 45kg

S = 4.5m

3.
μ = 0.02

g
B = 300N 40k
S= 4m
10 o

4.
μ=0.1 B = 50N
20k 60o
g

S = 3m
15o
 5.

Vi = 2m/s Vf = ?

F = 25N
2kg 25kg

S = 4m

6. A 0.5kg. stone is thrown vertically upward with a velocity 30m/s from a point
50m above the ground. Solve for the velocity when it strikes the ground and the height
from the ground when its final velocity is 40m/s. Use energy – work equation.
Given:

Required:

Solution:
7. A 1500kg car is coasting down a 30ْo hill at a time when the car’s speed is 2m/s,
the driver applies the brakes. What force (parallel to the road) must be applied by the
brakes of the car is to stop after covering 30m?
Given:

Required

Solution:

8. What power does a body if the body does a 300,000J of work during a time of
30minutes.

Given:

Solution:

Required:

9. The power developed by a mechanical is 10 HP. How much work was done
during 1 hour?
Given:
Required:

Solution:

10. A machine has an efficiency of 90% and it is used to lift a 500kg load to a height.
of 10m. If its power input is 3HP, determine work output, time it took to operate and
work lost during the process.
Given:
Required:

Solution:

11. A machine has an eff. of 25% and an input power of 5Hp. Solve for the time it
takes to lift a 1,000 kg load to a height of 30m and the power lost during the process.
Given:

Required:

Solution:

12. A machine can do 200,000J of work in 2minutes. If the input power is 2.8 HP.
Solve for the efficiency and power lost in Hp during the process.
Given: W o =200,000 J
 60 s
t=2 x =120 s
1min
746 J /s
Pi=2.8 Hp x =2088.8 J /s
1 Hp

Required:
a . %eff =?
b . Pl=?
Solution:

13.
μ = 0.09

g
B = 400N 40k
S= 6m
10 o