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LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEET IN GENERAL PHYSICS 1

__1st__ Quarter – Week __6__ - Lesson __3__
(Work-Kinetic Energy Theorem,
Gravitational Potential Energy, Elastic Potential Energy)
I. Background Information
Kinetic Energy and Work-Kinetic Energy Theorem
When the net force acting on an object is zero, the net work done by all the forces acting on
the object is zero.  When the net force acting on an object is not zero, then the net work done on the
object is Wnet = Fnet·d.  When a net force acts on an object, then the object accelerates, it changes its
velocity.
Can we express the work done by the net force in terms of this change in velocity?
Assume an object is moving along a straight line and a constant force Fnet = ma is acting on the
object.  Then Wnet = ma·d.  The work is proportional to the acceleration a.  This acceleration causes a
change in speed, a = (vf - vi)/∆t.  For translational motion we have
a=(vf2−vi2) / 2d
Wnet  = m(vf - vi)(vf + vi)/2
= ½m(vf2 - vi2).
= ½ mvf2 – ½ mvi2 (eq. 1)
We can express the net work done on the object in terms of the change in the quantity ½ mv 2. 
We define the kinetic energy of the object as KE = ½mv2.  The net work done on the object is
equal to the change in the kinetic energy of the object.
Wnet = ∆KE = KEf - KEi = ½m(vf2- vi2) = ½ mvf2 – ½ mvi2 (eq. 2)
SI unit: joule ( J) = kg m2/s2
This is called the work-kinetic energy theorem. The kinetic energy KE of an object of mass
m moving with a speed v is
KE = ½ mv2. (eq. 3)
SI unit: joule ( J) = kg · m2/s2

Fig. 1.A constant net external force acts over a displacement and does work on the plane. As a result of the
work done, the plane’s kinetic energy changes.

Example 1
How much work is done to speed up a 10,000 kg automobile from a velocity of 5 m/s
to 8 m/s?
Wnet = ∆KE = KEf - KEi = ½m(vf2- vi2)
= ½m(vf2- vi2)
= ½ 10,000 kg [ (8 m/s)2 - (5 m/s)2 ]

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 = 195, 000 J

Example 2
The driver of a 1.00 x 103 kg car traveling on the interstate at 35.0 m/s (nearly 80.0 mph)
slams on his brakes to avoid hitting a second vehicle in front of him, which had come to rest because
of congestion ahead (Fig. 2). After the brakes are applied, a constant kinetic friction force of
magnitude 8.00 x 103 N acts on the car. Ignore air resistance. a) At what minimum distance should the
brakes be applied to avoid a collision with the other vehicle? b) If the distance between the vehicles is
initially only 30.0 m, at what speed would the collision occur?

Fig. 2. A braking vehicle just prior to an accident.

a) Wnet  = ∆KE = KEf - KEi = ½m(vf2- vi2)

-fk∆x = ½mvf2 - ½mvi2
= 0 - ½mvi2
- (8.00 x 103 N) ∆x = ½ (1.00x103 kg) (35.0 m/s)2
∆x = 76.6 m

b) Wnet  = Wfric = -fk∆x = ½mvf2 - ½mvi2

2
vf2 = vi2 – fk∆x
m
2
vf2 = (35.0 m/s)2 – ( 3
¿ ¿ (8.00 x 103N) (30.0 m)
1.00 x 10 kg ¿
vf = √ 745 m2 / s2
vf = 27.3 m/s

Gravitational Work and Gravitational Potential Energy

An object with kinetic energy (energy of motion) can do work on another object, just like a
moving hammer can drive a nail into a wall. A brick on a high shelf can also do work: it can fall off
the shelf, accelerate downward, and hit a nail squarely, driving it into the floorboards. The brick is
said to have potential energy associated with it, because from its location on the shelf it can
potentially do work.
Potential energy is a property of a system, rather than of a single object, because it’s due to
the relative positions of interacting objects in the system, such as the position of the diver in Figure 3
relative to the Earth. In this topic we define a system as a collection of objects interacting via forces or
other processes that are internal to the system. It turns out that potential energy is another way of
looking at the work done by conservative forces.

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 Fig. 3. The diver has potential energy relative to the surface water which is equal in both situations assuming
that the slide is frictionless.

Using
the work–energy theorem in problems involving gravitation requires computing the work done by
gravity. For most trajectories—say, for a ball traversing a parabolic arc—finding the gravitational
work done on the ball requires sophisticated techniques from calculus. Fortunately, for conservative
fields there’s a simple alternative: potential energy.
Gravity is a conservative force, and for every conservative force, a special expression called a
potential energy function can be found. Evaluating that function at any two points in an object’s path
of motion and finding the difference will give the negative of the work done by that force between
those two points. It’s also advantageous that potential energy, like work and kinetic energy, is a scalar
quantity.
Our first step is to find the work done by gravity on an object when it moves from one
position to another. The negative of that work is the change in the gravitational potential energy of the
system, and from that expression, we’ll be able to identify the potential energy function.
In Figure 4, a book of mass m falls from a height yi to a height yf , where the positive y -
coordinate represents position above the ground. We neglect the force of air friction, so the only force
acting on the book is gravitation. How much work is done? The magnitude of the force is mg and that
of the displacement is ∆y = hi-hf (a positive number), while both F and ∆y are pointing downwards,
so the angle between them is zero. We apply the definition of work in work equation, with d= hi-hf:
Wg = Fdcos θ = mg (hi-hf) cos 00 (eq. 4)

Fig. 4. Gravity exerts a force mg on the basketball. Work is done by the gravitational force as the
basketball falls from a height of hi to a height of hf.

Now, let’s obtain an expression for the gravitational potential energy. Our starting point is
Equation 4 for the work done by the gravitational force as an object moves from an initial height hi to
a final height hf:
Wg = PEi – PEf =mghi- mghf (eq. 5)
This shows that the work done by the gravitational force is equal to the difference between
the initial and final values of the quantity mgh. The value of mgh is larger when the height is larger
and smaller when the height is smaller. We identify the quantity mgh as the gravitational potential
energy.
The gravitational potential energy PE is the energy that an object of mass m has by virtue of
its position relative to the surface of the earth. That position is measured by the height h of the object
relative to an arbitrary zero level:
PE =mgh (eq. 6)

SI Unit of Gravitational Potential Energy: joule (J)

Example 3

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 Suppose a 350-g kookaburra (a large kingfisher bird) picks up a 75-g snake and raises it 2.5 m
from the ground to a branch. How much work did the bird do on the snake? How much work did the
gravity do on the snake?

a) Wkf = PEi – PEf =mghi- mghf

= 0.075 kg (9.8 m/s2) (2.5 m) - 0
= 1.8 J
b) Wg = PEi – PEf =mgh (cos θ)
= 0.075 kg (9.8 m/s2) (2.5 m) (cos 180)
= -1.8 J
Example 4
How much more gravitational potential energy does a 1.0 kg hammer have when it is on a
shelf 1.5 m high than when it is on a shelf 0.90 m high?
ΔPE = PEi – PEf =mghi- mghf
= 1.0 kg (9.8 m/s2) (1.5 m) - 1.0 kg (9.8 m/s2) (0.90 m)
= 5.9 J

Example 5
A 0.50 kg ball is thrown vertically upward with an initial velocity of 10 m/s. a) What is the
change in ball’s kinetic energy between the starting point and its maximum height? b) What is the
change in the ball’s potential energy between its maximum height and the launch point? (Neglect air
resistance)
a) ∆KE = KEf - KEi = ½mvf2- ½mvi2)
= - ½mvi2 (since velocity on top is zero)
= - ½ 0.50 kg (5 m/s)2
= -25 J
b) vf2 = vi2 – 2gdy
2
vi
hmax= dy =
2g
= ¿¿
= 5.1 m
ΔPE =mghmax
= 0.50 kg (9.8 m/s2) (5.1m)
= +25 J

Elastic Potential Energy

Elastic potential energy is energy stored as a result of applying a force to deform an elastic
object. The energy is stored until the force is removed and the object springs back to its original
shape, doing work in the process. The deformation could involve compressing, stretching or twisting
the object. Many objects are designed specifically to store elastic potential energy, for example:
The coil spring of a wind-up clock
An archer's stretched bow
A bent diving board, just before a divers jump
The twisted rubber band which powers a toy airplane
A bouncy ball, compressed at the moment it bounces
off a brick wall.
An object designed to store elastic potential
energy will typically have a high elastic limit,

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Fig. 5. Elastic potential energy stored by a spring
however all elastic objects have a limit to the load they can sustain. When deformed beyond the
elastic limit, the object will no longer return to its original shape. In earlier generations, wind-up
mechanical watches powered by coil springs were popular accessories. Nowadays, we don't tend to
use wind-up smartphones because no materials exist with high enough elastic limit to store elastic
potential energy with high enough energy density. 
How can we calculate elastic potential energy for an ideal spring?
Hooke's law and elasticity discusses how the magnitude of the force F due to an ideal spring
depends linearly on the length it has been compressed or expanded Δx,
F = k ·Δx (eq. 7)
where k is some positive number known as the spring constant. The spring force is a
conservative force and conservative forces have potential energies associated with them. 
From the definition of work, we know that the area under a force versus displacement
graph gives the work done by the force. Figure 6 shows a plot of force vs displacement for a spring.
Because the area under the curve is a triangle and no energy is lost in an ideal spring, the elastic
potential energy U can be found from the work done

Fig. 6. Work done by a force on an ideal spring.

A = ½ bh
U = ½ Δx (k·Δx)
U = ½ k(Δx)2 (eq. 8)
Example 6
A truck spring has a spring constant of 5x 104 N/m. When unloaded, the truck sits 0.8 m
above the road. When loaded with goods, it lowers to 0.7 m above the ground. How much potential
energy is stored in the four springs?
U = ½ k(Δx)2
= ½ 5 x 104 N/m (0.1 m)2
= 250 J/ spring but since a truck has 4 springs so the potential energy stored
is 1000 J
II. Learning Competency with Code
Apply the work-energy theorem to obtain quantitative and qualitative conclusions regarding
the work done, initial and final velocities, mass and kinetic energy of a system - STEM_GP12WE-
Ig-45
Relate the gravitational potential energy of a system or object to the configuration of the
system- STEM_GP12WE-Ig-48

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 Relate the elastic potential energy of a system or object to the configuration of the system
STEM_GP12WE-Ig-49
III. ACTIVITY NO. 1
Directions: Answer the following questions dealing with problems on work-kinetic energy
theorem and gravitational potential energy. Do not forget to show your solution and display all units.

1. Calculate the work needed to accelerate a motorcycle with a mass of 150 kg from 10 m/s 2 to
20 m/s2?

2. A gymnast springs vertically upward from a trampoline as in figure below. The gymnast
leaves the trampoline at a height of 1.20 m and reaches a maximum height of 4.80 m before
falling back down. All heights are measured with respect to the ground. Ignoring air
resistance, determine the initial speed vi with which the gymnast leaves the trampoline.

3. Using energy considerations, calculate the average force a 60.0-kg sprinter exerts backward
on the track to accelerate from 2.00 to 8.00 m/s in a distance of 25.0 m, if he encounters a
headwind that exerts an average force of 30.0 N against him.

4. A 0.20 kg stone is projected vertically upward with an initial velocity of 7.5 m/s, from a
starting point 1.2 m above the ground. a) What is the potential energy of the stone at its
maximum height relative to the ground? b) What is the change in the potential energy of the
stone?

5. A wagon with an initial velocity of 4 m/s and a mass of 35 kg gets a push with 350 joules of
force. What is the wagon’s final velocity?

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IV. ACTIVITY 2
Directions: Answer the following questions dealing with problems on elastic potential energy. Do
not forget to show your solution and display all units.

1. A trained archer has the ability to draw a longbow with a force of up to 300 N, extending the
string back by 0.6 m. Assuming the bow behaves like an ideal spring, a)what spring constant
would allow the archer to make use of his full strength? b) What potential energy is stored in
the bow when it is drawn?

2. You attach a Hooke's law spring to a board, and use 3 J to stretch the spring 99 cm. What is
the value of the spring constant?

3. You have an elastic spring that has a spring constant of 1.5 x 10 -2 N/m, and the spring is
compressed by 15.0 cm. What is the PE of the spring?

4. A compressed spring has the potential energy of 20 J and its spring constant is 200 N/m.
Calculate the displacement of the spring.

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V. GUIDE QUESTIONS
(Questions that will lead the learner to express their learning from the lesson)
1. A block slides at constant speed down a ramp while acted on by three forces: its weight, the
normal force, and kinetic friction. Respond to each statement, true or false. (a) The combined
net work done by all three forces on the block equals zero. (b) Each force does zero work on
the block as it slides. (c) Each force does negative work on the block as it slides.

2. You are told that the gravitational potential energy of a 2.0 kg object decreased by 10 J. What
does this tell you? That is what physically happened to the object?

VI. RUBRICS (If necessary)

Rubrics for the problem solving

0 1 2 3 Score

Strategic Little or no Valid approach Valid approach Approach chosen

Approach understanding of with multiple with minor errors is clearly shown,
how to approach errors that that impede clearly written,
the problem impede understanding and all elements
understanding are valid

Physics Little or no Appropriate Appropriate Appropriate

Concepts understanding of concepts concepts that are concepts that
physics concepts identified but not mostly that are fully
employed or understood but understood
understood employed with (symmetries,
errors conserved
quantities)
Answer No answer Incorrect answer Correct answer 100% correct
but on the right analytically but answer
path not numerically (analytically,
numerically,
conceptually)

VII. REFLECTION
(Lead the learners to give their insights)
What do you think is the relationship between kinetic energy and gravitational potential
energy to the total mechanical energy of the object?

8
 

VIII. REFERENCES

Cutnell, John D, Johnson, Kenneth W. 2012. College Physics 9th Edition. John Wiley and Sons

Santos, Gil Nonato. C. 2017. General Physics 1. Manila, Sampaloc: Rex Book Store Inc.

Serway, Raymond A, Chris Vuille, and John Hughes. 2018. College Physics. Boston, Ma, Cengage
Learning
Wilson, Jerry D, Anthony J. Buffa. 1998. Physics 3 rd Edition. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07548:
Prentice Hall Inc.
Bregente, Norris. 2020. "Kinetic Energy". Labman.Phys.Utk.Edu.
http://labman.phys.utk.edu/phys135core/modules/m6/kinetic%20energy.html.
Bregente, Norris. 2020. "What Is Elastic Potential Energy? (Article) | Khan Academy".  Khan
Academy. https://www.khanacademy.org/science/physics/work-and-energy/hookes-law/a/
what-is-elastic-potential-energy.
Bregente, Norris. 2020. "Elastic Potential Energy - Energy Education". Energyeducation.Ca.
https://energyeducation.ca/encyclopedia/Elastic_potential_energy.
Bregente, Norris. 2020. "Elastic Potential Energy - Energy Education". Energyeducation.Ca.
https://energyeducation.ca/encyclopedia/Elastic_potential_energy.

Prepared by:

NORRIS A. BREGENTE
Name of Writer