Chapter 7 Kinetic Energy and Work

• Work
• Kinetic Energy
• Work-Kinetic Energy Theorem
• Gravitational Potential Energy
• Elastic Potential Energy
• Work-Energy Theorem
• Conservative and Non-conservative Forces
• Conservation of Energy

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 Definition of Work W
• The work, W, done by a constant force on an
object is defined as the product of the component of
the force along the direction of displacement and the
magnitude of the displacement

 F is the magnitude of the force

 Δ x is the magnitude of the
object’s displacement
 q is the angle between

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 Work Done by Multiple Forces
• If more than one force acts on an object, then the total
work is equal to the algebraic sum of the work done
by the individual forces

 Remember work is a scalar, so

this is the algebraic sum

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 Kinetic Energy and Work
• Kinetic energy associated with the motion of
an object

• Scalar quantity with the same unit as work

• Work is related to kinetic energy

Units: N-m or J

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Work done by a Gravitational Force
• Gravitational Force
 Magnitude: mg
 Direction: downwards to the
Earth’s center
• Work done by Gravitational
Force

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 Potential Energy
• Potential energy is associated with the
position of the object
• Gravitational Potential Energy is the
energy associated with the relative
position of an object in space near the
Earth’s surface
• The gravitational potential energy

 m is the mass of an object

 g is the acceleration of gravity
 y is the vertical position of the mass
relative the surface of the Earth
 SI unit: joule (J)

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 Work and Gravitational
Potential Energy

• PE = mgy
•

• Units of Potential
Energy are the same
as those of Work and
Kinetic Energy

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Extended Work-Energy Theorem
• The work-energy theorem can be extended to include
potential energy:

• If we only have gravitational force, then

• The sum of the kinetic energy and the gravitational

potential energy remains constant at all time and hence
is a conserved quantity

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Extended Work-Energy Theorem
• We denote the total mechanical energy by

• Since

• The total mechanical energy is conserved and remains

the same at all times

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 Problem-Solving Strategy
• Define the system
• Select the location of zero gravitational potential
energy
 Do not change this location while solving the problem
• Identify two points the object of interest moves
between
 One point should be where information is given
 The other point should be where you want to find out
something

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 Example 1: Platform Diver
• A diver of mass m drops
from a board 10.0 m above
the water’s surface. Neglect
air resistance.
• (a) Find is speed 5.0 m
above the water surface
• (b) Find his speed as he hits
the water

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 Solution: Platform Diver
• (a) Find his speed 5.0 m above the water
surface

• (b) Find his speed as he hits the water

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 Spring Force
We next want to examine the work done on a
particle-like object by a particular type of
variable force—namely, a spring force, the
force from a spring. Many forces in nature have
the same mathematical form as the spring
force. Thus, by examining this one force, you
can gain an understanding of many others.

The spring force is given by Hooke’s law,

where k is the spring constant.

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 Work Done by a Spring Force

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 Potential Energy in a Spring
• Elastic Potential Energy:
– SI unit: Joule (J)
– related to the work required to
compress a spring from its
equilibrium position to some final,
arbitrary, position x
• Work done by the spring

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 Extended Work-Energy Theorem
• The work-energy theorem can be extended to include
potential energy:

• If we include gravitational force and spring force, then

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 Extended Work-Energy Theorem
• We denote the total mechanical energy by

• Since

• The total mechanical energy is conserved and remains

the same at all times

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 Example 1
A 0.5-kg block rests on a horizontal, frictionless surface.
The block is pressed back against a spring having a
constant of k = 625 N/m, compressing the spring by 10.0
cm to point A. Then the block is released.
(a) Find the maximum distance d the block travels up
the frictionless incline if θ = 30°
(b) How fast is the block going when halfway to its
maximum height?

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 Solution (a)
• Point A (initial state):
• Point B (final state):

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 Solution (b)
• Point A (initial state):
• Point B (final state):

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 Types of Forces
• Conservative forces
 Work and energy associated
with the force can be recovered
 Examples: Gravity, Spring Force,
EM forces
• Nonconservative forces
 The forces are generally
dissipative, and work done
against it cannot easily be
recovered
 Examples: Kinetic friction, air
drag forces, normal forces,
tension forces, applied forces …

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 Conservative Forces
• A force is conservative if the work it does on an
object moving between two points is independent
of the path the objects take between the points
 The work depends only upon the initial and final
positions of the object
 Any conservative force can have a potential energy
function associated with it
 Work done by gravity
 Work done by spring force

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 Nonconservative Forces
• A force is nonconservative if the work it does on
an object depends on the path taken by the
object between its final and starting points.
 The work depends upon the movement path
 For a non-conservative force, potential energy can
NOT be defined
 Work done by a nonconservative force

 It is generally dissipative. The dispersal

of energy takes the form of heat or sound

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 Extended Work-Energy Theorem
• The work-energy theorem can be written as:

 Wnc represents the work done by nonconservative forces

 Wc represents the work done by conservative forces
• Any work done by conservative forces can be accounted
for by changes in potential energy

 Gravity work

 Spring force work

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Extended Work-Energy Theorem
• Any work done by conservative forces can be accounted
for by changes in potential energy

• Mechanical energy includes kinetic and potential energy

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 Problem-Solving Strategy
• Define the system to see if it includes non-conservative
forces (especially friction, drag force …)
• Without non-conservative forces

• With non-conservative forces

• Select the location of zero potential energy

 Do not change this location while solving the problem
• Identify two points the object of interest moves between
 One point should be where information is given
 The other point should be where you want to find out something

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 Conservation of Mechanical Energy
A block of mass m = 0.40 kg slides across a horizontal
frictionless counter with a speed of v = 0.50 m/s. It runs into
and compresses a spring of spring constant k = 750 N/m.
When the block is momentarily stopped by the spring, by
what distance d is the spring compressed?

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 Example 3: Conservative Forces
A 3-kg crate slides down a ramp. The ramp is 1 m in length and
inclined at an angle of 30° as shown. The crate starts from rest at the
top. The surface friction can be negligible. Use energy methods to
determine the speed of the crate at the bottom of the ramp.

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 Example 4: Non-Conservative Forces

A 3-kg crate slides down a ramp. The ramp is 1 m in length and

inclined at an angle of 30° as shown. The crate starts from rest at the
top. The surface in contact have a coefficient of kinetic friction of 0.15.
Use energy methods to determine the speed of the crate at the bottom
of the ramp.

fk

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 Example 5: Non-Conservative Forces
A 3-kg crate slides down a ramp. The ramp is 1 m in length and
inclined at an angle of 30° as shown. The crate starts from rest at the
top. The surface in contact have a coefficient of kinetic friction of 0.15.
How far does the crate slide on the horizontal floor if it continues to
experience a friction force.

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 Example 6: Block-Spring Collision
• A block having a mass of 0.8 kg is given an initial velocity vA = 1.2 m/s
to the right and collides with a spring whose mass is negligible and
whose force constant is k = 50 N/m as shown in figure. Assuming the
surface to be frictionless, calculate the maximum compression of the
spring after the collision.

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 Example 7: Block-Spring Collision
• A block having a mass of 0.8 kg is given an initial velocity vA = 1.2 m/s
to the right and collides with a spring whose mass is negligible and
whose force constant is k = 50 N/m as shown in figure. Suppose a
constant force of kinetic friction acts between the block and the
surface, with µk = 0.5, what is the maximum compression xc in the
spring.

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 Connected Blocks in Motion
• Two blocks are connected by a light string that passes over a
frictionless pulley. The block of mass m1 lies on a horizontal surface
and is connected to a spring of force constant k. The system is
released from rest when the spring is unstretched. If the hanging
block of mass m2 falls a distance h before coming to rest, calculate the
coefficient of kinetic friction between the block of mass m1 and the
surface.

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Work Done by a General Variable Force

One-Dimension:

Three-Dimension:

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 Power
• Work does not depend on time interval
• The rate at which energy is transferred is
important in the design and use of practical
device
• The time rate of energy transfer is called power
• The average power is given by

– when the method of energy transfer is work

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 Instantaneous Power
• Power is the time rate of energy transfer. Power
is valid for any means of energy transfer
• Other expression

• A more general definition of instantaneous

power

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 Power Delivered by an Elevator Motor
A 1000-kg elevator carries a maximum load of 800 kg. A
constant frictional force of 4000 N retards its motion upward.
What minimum power must the motor deliver to lift the fully
loaded elevator at a constant speed of 3 m/s?

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