Chapter 5: Work, energy and power

Cambridge Physics Coursebook, Mechanics 2

Specification references:
- 1.3.17 be able to use the equation for work ∆W = F∆s, including calculations when the force is
not along the line of motion
1 2
- 1.3.18 be able to use the equation KE= m v for the kinetic energy of a body
2
- 1.3.19 be able to use the equation ∆Egrav = mg∆h for the difference in gravitational potential
energy near the Earth’s surface
- 1.3.20 know, and understand how to apply, the principle of conservation of energy including use
of work done, gravitational potential energy and kinetic energy
- 1.3.21 be able to use the equations relating power, time and energy transferred or work done

E W
P= or P=
t t
- 1.3.22 be able to use the equations
useful energy output
efficiency =
total energy input
useful power output
efficiency =
total power input

Doing work, transferring energy

- Work is done on an object when a force is applied to it and there is motion.
- When a force is applied to an object, it gains energy. In other words, energy is transferred to it.
- This energy transferred is equal to the amount of work done.
- Hence,
Energy Transferred=Work Done

- This energy moves the object a certain distance.

- So, work done depends on two factors.
o The higher the force, the higher the work done
o The higher the distance moved, the higher the work done.
- Hence,
Work done=Force× distance

Example:

1
Chapter 5: Work, energy and power
Cambridge Physics Coursebook, Mechanics 2

Work Done = Force x Distance

= 300 x 5.0
= 1500 J

The Joule
- The joule is the unit of work done
o The Newton is the unit of force.
o The metre is the unit of distance
- Hence,
Work done=Force× Distance
J=N × m

- So, 1J of energy is transferred when 1N moves 1m in the direction of the force.

- Base unit of the joule is kgm2s-2

Force, Distance and direction

- Distance considered must be in the direction of force.

So, Work done=F × s cos θ

sm

θ⁰ FN

Example Question:
1 A man pulls a box along horizontal ground using a rope.
Force provided = 200N
Angle = 30o
Distance = 5m
Calculate the work done
A

2
Chapter 5: Work, energy and power
Cambridge Physics Coursebook, Mechanics 2

- W = F x s x cosθ
- W = 200 x 5 x cos30
- W = 865J

A gas doing work

- When a gas expands, it does work on its surroundings
Force
- Pressure=
Area
- Force=Pressure × Area
- W =F × s
- W =P× A × s (Substituting F = P x A)
- W =P× ∆ V (A x s is the change in volume)
Here, we assume that the pressure does not change as the gas expands.

Gravitational Potential Energy

- Work done against gravity when lifting an object along a vertical height
- Object’s GPE increases, Kinetic Energy decreases.

The formula
- W =Fs
- W =mg× h (F = mg, s = change in height)
- W =mgh

Example Question:
2 A weightlifter raises weights
mass = 200kg
height = 1.5m
Calculate the weights’ increase in GPE
A
- W =F × s
- W =200 ×9.81 ×1.5
- W =2940 J
OR
- ∆ GPE = m x g x ∆ h
- ∆ GPE = 200 x 9.81 x 1.5
- ∆ GPE = 2940J
At greater heights, value of g will decrease.

3
Chapter 5: Work, energy and power
Cambridge Physics Coursebook, Mechanics 2

Kinetic Energy
- Forces can make objects accelerate
- The faster the object moves, the greater its gain in kinetic energy.

- If an object is accelerated from rest (u = 0) to a velocity of v,

- v 2=2 as (Setting u = 0 in v2 = u2 + 2as)
1
- m v 2=mas (multiplying by m/2)
2
1
- m v 2=Fs (ma = F)
2
1
- W ( KE )= m v 2 (W = F x s)
2
Example Question:
3 Calculate the increase in kinetic energy of a car of mass 800kg when it accelerates from 20ms-1 to
30ms-1.

A
1 1
- Initial Ek = m v 2= ×800 × 202=160 , 000 J =160 kJ
2 2
1 2 1 2
- Final Ek = m v = ×800 ×30 =360 , 000 J =360 kJ
2 2
- Find the change in Ek = 360 – 160 = 200kJ

GPE – KE transformations
- When a roller-coaster car is pushed up by a motor
o It slows down, so KE decreases
o It gains height, so GPE increases
- At the topmost point
o It is at rest, so KE is zero
o It is at max height, so GPE is max
- As it falls
o It speeds up, so KE increases
o It loses height, so GPE decreases
- At the bottom
o It is the fastest, so KE is max
o Height from ground is zero, so change in GPE is zero
- GPE Loss/Gain = KE Gain/loss

Example Question:

4
Chapter 5: Work, energy and power
Cambridge Physics Coursebook, Mechanics 2

4 A pendulum is made of a brass sphere of 5kg. It is swung so that it is lifted 0.15m from its lowest
position. Find velocity at lowest position.

A
- Loss in GPE = 5 x 9.81 x 0.15 = 7.36J
- Gain in KE = ½ x 5 x v2
- GPE loss = KE gain
- ½ x 5 x v2 = 7.36
- v = 1.72ms-1

Energy transfers and efficiency

- Conservation Law of Energy states that energy can never be created nor destroyed. It can only
be transformed from one form to another.
- Energy is said to be wasted when all the input energy is not converted to the desired form of
energy.
- The useful, desired energy in proportion to the input energy is efficiency.
useful energy output
- Hence, efficiency =
total energy input

Example Question:
5 A dam holds water which has to fall 20m and leaves from an outlet with speed 16ms-1.
Calculate percentage loss of energy when it is converted from GPE to KE.

A
- Consider for each kg of water flowing,
- GPE loss = 1 x 9.81 x 20 = 196J
- KE gain = ½ x 1 x 162 = 128J
- Hence, energy lost in conversion is = 196 – 128 = 68J
- %loss = 68/196 x 100(%) = 35%

Power
- It is the rate of change of work done.
Woek Done
- Hence, Power=
Time
The Watt
- The watt is the unit of power
o The joule is the unit of work done
o The second is the unit of time
- Hence,
Woek Done
Power=
Time
J 5
W=
s

W =J s−1
Chapter 5: Work, energy and power
Cambridge Physics Coursebook, Mechanics 2

- So, 1W of power is developed when 1J work is done in 1s

- Base unit of the watt is kgm2s-3
Example Question:
6 A motor provides a force of 20kN to raise a lift by 18m in 10s

A
- W = F x s = 20,000 X 18 = 360,000J
- P = W/t = 360,000/10 = 36,000W = 36kW

Moving Power
W Fs s
- P= = =F × =Fv
t t t
- P=Fv
- So, when the force on an object increases, it develops more power.
- When it moves faster, it develops more power.

Human Power
- Humans take in about 10MJ/day
10× 106
- So the average human power is = =116 W
86400
- On average, the human body uses energy at a rate of 10Js-1
Example Question:
7 A person weighing 500N runs up a flight of stairs in 5s and gains 3m height.
Calculate the rate of work done against gravity.
A
s 3
- P=F × =500× =300W
t 5