WORK AND ENERGY

Work
When a force F moves its point of application through a distance S, work is said to be done. The
work done by the force when its point of application undergoes a displacement s is given by W =
(F cos ). s that is, the scalar (dot) product of F and S = Fs cos  where  is the angle between
F and S .
Work done is defined as the product of the force and the displacement in the direction of the
force. The unit of work done is joule. Thus work done is an algebraic scalar quantity which can
either be positive or negative.

Note: Work is positive (> 0) if 0 << 90o F

Work is negative (< 0) if 90o<< 180o
i.e. W = FS cos (180 - ) = - F s cos 
Work is zero (= 0) if  = 90, S.
i.e. the force is perpendicular to the displacement. The S.I unit of work and energy of all kinds is
(Nm) which is called joule and denoted by J.

Example: A body of mass 5kg is drawn at a constant speed through a distance 6m along a
horizontal floor by a rope exerting a constant force magnitude 10N at an angle of 30 o with
horizontal. Calculate coefficient of the friction and the work done by friction on the block.

Resolve the force to the horizontal and vertical components

Resultant horizontal motion
Fcosθ = Fr
Fcosθ –Fr = ma = 0
10cos30o = Fr
Fr = 8.7N
Resultant vertical motion
R + Fsinθ = W
R + Fsinθ – W = ma = 0
R = W – Fsinθ
R = mg - 10sin30o = 5 x 9.8 - 10sin30o = 44N
NB: The frictional force moves against the body’s motion on straight line.
The work done by friction = Fcosθ x 6
W= 8.7cos180o x 6 = -52J

𝐹𝑟 8.7
μ= = 44 = 0.197
𝑅
Example: An object of mass 0.2kg is thrown vertically upward with a speed of 20m/s. Calculate
the P.E at the greatest height and its K.E on returning to the ground.
When object is thrown vertically upward, the final speed V = 0m/s
Initial speed U = 20m/s
V2 = U2 +2gS
0 = 202 +2 x -9.8 x S
202=2 x -9.8 x S
400 = 19.6 S
S = 20.4m
P.E at the greatest height = mgh = 0.2 x 9.8 x 20.4 = 40J
As the object is coming down, U = 0m/s,
V2 = U2 +2gS
V2 = 02 +2gS
V2 =2gS = 2 x 9.8 x 20.4 = 399.8
1 1
K.E = 2mV2 = 2 x 0.2 x 399.8 = 39.9J.

Example: A stone of mass 5kg falls from a height of 20m into a box of sand. If the depth of
penetration is 0.4m, what is the K.E of the stone just before touching the sand?
H = 20 -0.4 = 19.6m
V2 = U2 +2gS
V2 = 02 +2gS
V2 =2gS = 2 x 9.8 x 19.6
V = 19.6m/s
1 1
K.E = 2mV2 = 2 x 5 x 19.6 = 960.4J.
Example: A body of mass 5.0kg is drawn at a constant speed through a distance 6m along a
horizontal floor by a rope exerting a constant force of magnitude 10N at an angle of 30 with the
horizontal. Calculate;
(i) the work done by the rope on the block (ii) the work done by friction on the block
(iii) the total work done on the block (iv) the coefficient of kinetic friction between the block and
floor.

(i) W = F.S = FS cos  = (10) (6) Cos 300

W = 52.0J
(ii) W = Fr.S = Fr S Cos 1800 = (10 cos 300) (6) cos 1800 = -52.0J
(iii) Total work done = work done by tension + work done by frictional
Force = (52.0 + (-52.0) = 0J
0
(iv)  k  Fr  10 cos 30
N N
Resolve vertical components,
N + 10 sin 300 – 49 = 0
10 cos 30 0
N = 44N  k   0.20
44
Mechanical Energy
Energy is the capacity to perform work. Energy and Work are both measured in the same unit,
Joule (J). Forms of mechanical energy include;

(i) Potential energy (P.E) is the energy possessed by a body when it is at an elevation (a
position). It is equal to the work it can do when it falls freely to the ground.
P.E = F.h. = m g h
(ii) Kinetic energy (K.E) is the energy possessed by a body when it is in motion. If a
variable force causes a displacement from 0 to point x, then the work done is given
as;
dW = Fdx
X X mdv V
W  Fdx   dx   mvdv
0 0 dt 0

KE = ½ mv2
Work - Energy Theorem
Work-Energy theorem states that the work done by the resultant external force acting on a body
is equal to the change in kinetic energy of the body.
W = K.Ef – K.Ei = KE

Example: A proton is accelerated at 3.6  1015ms-2 through a distance of 3.5cm. If the initial
velocity is 2.4  107ms-1, find the change in kinetic energy at the end of the distance [m0 = 1.67 
10-27 kg]

Solution
Change in kinetic energy = ½ mv2 – ½ mu2
Using v2 = u2 + 2as
= (2.4  107)2 + 2  3.6  1015 0.035
= 3.28  1014 ms-2
KE = K.Ef –K.Ei
1 1
KE = 2 𝑚𝑣 2 − 2 𝑚𝑢2
1
KE = 2  1.67  10-27 (3.28  1014 – 5.76  1014
1 1
KE =  1.67  10-27 x 3.28  1014 - 2  1.67  10-27 x 5.76  1014
2
= 2.1  1013J
Example: A body of 2kg has initial velocity of 8ms -1 in the +x direction as it passes the origin of
the coordinates. It is subjected to a retarding force such that F x= -0.5. What will be its x co-
ordinate when it stops?
From work-energy theorem we have
Work done = change in KE
Fx = ½ mvf2 – ½ mui2
(-0.5) (x) = 0 – ½  2  82
x = 128m
Example: A 10g bullet moving at 70ms-1 penetrates a block of wood 5cm before stopping.
Determine (i) the kinetic energy of the bullet (ii) the average stopping force.
Solution
(i) Kinetic energy of the bullet before hitting the block
= ½ mu2 = ½  10  10-3 702
= 24.5J
(ii) W = K.E f – K.Ei
But K.Ef = 0
W = Fr .s = -ki = - 24.5
Fr = 24.5 - 2 = -490N
5  10
The average stopping force = 490N

Principle of Conservation of Energy

Any form of energy may be transformed from one form to another. e.g. mechanical to heat when
rubbing against friction, heat to mechanical in heat engine or mechanical to electricity at a
hydroelectric station. In any of these transformations, a principle always holds, and that is; for a
closed system, the total energy remains constant. In a mechanical system, the principle of
conservation of energy will imply that in the absence of any dissipate forces like friction, the
total energy is constant.
For example when a body falls from a height, its potential energy is being converted to kinetic
energy such that K.E gained = P.E. lost or
½ m v2 = m g h where v, the velocity acquired = 2 gh , and h is the distance fallen

P.E only

P.E +K.E

K.E only

Illustration of conservation of mechanical energy at height h

Suppose we release the body from rest at a height h above the floor as
shown from figure above, the total energy at this height is therefore equal to U (P.E). As it falls
its potential energy decreases but its kinetic energy KE increases to compensate so that the sum
of the two remains constant.

Example: An object of mass 0.2kg is thrown vertically upward with a speed of 20ms -1. Calculate;
(i) the potential energy at the greatest height h and the value of h.
(ii) the kinetic energy on reaching the ground again. (Neglect air resistance)
Solution
By the principle of conservation of energy we have
(i) On the ground KE + PE = ½ mv2 + 0
At maximum height KE + PE = 0 + mgh
Thus PE at maximum height = ½ mu2 = ½  0.2 202 = 40.0J
m g h = 40  h = 40 mg  40 0.2  9.8 = 20.4m
(ii) Kinetic energy on reaching the ground = potential energy at the greatest height
= 40.0J

Rotational Dynamics
Angular Velocity and Acceleration
The angular velocity describe how fast a body is rotating. The average angular velocity

𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑟 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑑𝜃 𝜃 −𝜃
𝜔 = 𝑐𝑕𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒 = 𝑑𝑡 = 𝑡 2− 𝑡 1
𝑖𝑛 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑟𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 2 1
ω is measured in radians per seconds (rad/s)
The angular acceleration describes the rate of change of rotational motion. The angular
acceleration α of the particle is define as
𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑟 𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑑𝑣 𝜔 −𝜔
𝛼 = 𝑐𝑕𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑟𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 = 𝑑𝑡 = 𝑡 2− 𝑡 1
2 1
For constant angular acceleration
𝜔 −𝜔
α = 𝑡− 𝑡 0
0
ωo is the angular velocity at time t o = 0
ω –ωo = αt
ω = ωo + αt ............................i
𝜔 +𝜔 0
θ= 𝑡
2
Substitute in 1
𝜔 + 𝜔 + 𝛼𝑡
θ = 0 2𝑜 𝑡
1
θ = ωot + 2αt2 .....................ii
Eliminating t from i and ii
𝜔2 = 𝜔02 + 2𝛼𝜃 ......................iii

Example:A turnable player starting from rest is rotating with a constant angular acceleration of
2.5 rad/s2. Find the angular displacement of the turnable player and the angular velocity of the
turnable player 5 seconds later.
1
i) From θ = ωot + αt2
2
At t = 0, ωo = 0
 1
θ = 0 + 2 x 2.5 x 52
= 31.25 rad or 4.97 rev
ω = ωo + αt = 0 + 2.5 x 5 = 12.5 rad/s2

Example: A body with uniform angular velocity of 2 rev/s at t = 0 has angular acceleration of 0.5
rev/s2. After 10s, what will be (i) the final angular velocity (ii) the angular displacement?
i) At t = 0, ωo = 2 rev/s2 = 2 x 2𝜋 =4 𝜋 𝑟𝑎𝑑/𝑠
α = 0.5 x 2𝜋 = 𝜋 𝑟𝑎𝑑/𝑠
using ω = ωo + αt = 4 𝜋 𝑥 10𝜋 = 14𝜋𝑟𝑎𝑑/𝑠
1
i) θ = ωot + 2αt2
1
= 4 𝜋 x 10 + 2 𝜋 𝑥 102
= 40 𝜋 + 50 𝜋 = 90𝜋 𝑟𝑎𝑑

For a body moving in rotational motion there are two components of acceleration. The
centripetal acceleration aR and tangential acceleration aT.

𝑣2
aR = 𝑅
𝑑𝑣 𝑑 𝑑𝜔
aT = 𝑑𝑡 = 𝑑𝑡 𝜔𝑟 = r 𝑑𝑡 = 𝑟𝛼
The magnitude of instantaneous acceleration a = 𝑎𝑅2 + 𝑎2𝑇

Example: An electric fan blade 3cm in diameter is rotating about a fixed axis with an initial
velocity of 5 rev/s. If the angular acceleration is 3 rev/s 2, determine (i) the angular velocity after
2s (ii) the number of revolution completed in this time interval (iii) the tangential velocity of a
point on the tip of the blade at t = 2s (iv) the resultant acceleration of a point on the tip of the
blade at t = 2s.
ωo = 5 x 2𝜋 rad/s = 10𝜋 rad/s
α = 3 x 2𝜋 rad/s2 = 6 𝜋 rad/s2
i) using ω = ωo + αt
ω = 10𝜋 𝑥 2 + 6𝜋 𝑥2 = 20𝜋 + 12𝜋 = 32𝜋 rad/s
1
ii) θ = ωot + αt2
2
1
θ = 10𝜋 𝑥 2 + 2 x 6𝜋 𝑥 42 = 20𝜋 + 48𝜋 = 68𝜋 𝑟𝑎𝑑
2𝜋 𝑟𝑎𝑑 = 1 rev
68𝜋
68 𝜋 𝑟𝑎𝑑 = 2𝜋 𝑟𝑒𝑣 = 34 rev
iii) V = ωr = 22𝜋 x 3 10-2 = 2.07m/s
𝑣2 2.07 2
iv) aR = 𝑟 = 3 𝑥 10 −2 = 142.8𝑚/s2
aT = rα = 3 x 10-2 x 6𝜋 = 0.565m/s2
Resultant acceleration = 𝑎𝑅2 + 𝑎2𝑇 = (142.82 +0.5652)1/2 = 142.8m/s2
Moment of Inertial
It is a quantity expressing a body's tendency to resist angular acceleration, which is the sum of
the products of the mass of each particle in the body and the square of its distance from the axis
of rotation. The moment of inertial of particle of mass m about a line or axis is define by I =
Σmr2. It is measured in kgm2. The K.E of particle of mass m under rotational dynamic is K.E =
1
mr2ω2
2
But I = mr2.
1
Therefore, K.E = 2Iω2
1 1
Loss in the K.E = I𝜔02 − Iω2
2 2

Angular momentum is the quantity of rotation of a body. It is define as the product of its moment
of inertia and its angular velocity. The angular momentum is given by L = Σmωr2.
L = ωΣmr2 = ωI
L = ωI
It is measured in Kgm2/s.

Example: Determine the moment of inertial required to cause a drop in the angular velocity of an
engine flywheel from 900 rev/min to 660 rev/min if 500J of K.E is to be given up.
900
ωo = 900 rev/min = 60 rev/s = 15 rev/s = 30π rad/s
660
ω = 660 rev/min = rev/s = 11 rev/s = 22π rad/s
60
1
For a rotating wheel, K.E = 2Iω2
1 1
Loss in the K.E = 2 Iω2 − 2I𝜔02 = 500J
1
K.E = 2 I (ω2 − 𝜔02 ) = 500J

2 𝑥 500
I = (30𝜋)2 − (22𝜋 )2 = 0.243kgm2.