Topic: Work and Energy

Chapter 5

2.a: Students know how to calculate kinetic energy using the formula E = mv2. 2.b: Students know how to calculate gravitational potential energy near Earth by using the formula PE = mgh. 2.c: Students know how to solve problems involving the conservation of energy of simple systems, such as falling objects.

I. Work: is done on an object when a force causes a displacement of the object.

A. Equation: W = Fd B. Units: Joules (J)

1 J = 1 Nm

C. Net work done by a constant net force:

Wnet = Fnetdcosq

D. Importance of the sign:

If the sign is positive: work is in the same direction as the force, work is being done on the objectit speeds up. If the sign is negative: work is in the opposite direction as the force, work is being done by the objectit slows down.

II.

Kinetic Energy: energy of motion.

A. Equation: KE = m v2 B. Units: Joules (J) Energy is the ability to do work.

III. Work-Kinetic Energy Theorem: the net work done by a net force acting on an object is equal to the change in kinetic energy of the object.
A. Equation: Wnet = DKE Wnet = KEf - KEo

III. Potential Energy: stored energy.

A. Gravitational potential energy: stored energy due to the objects position relative to a gravitational source. 1) equation: PEg = mgh

B. Elastic potential energy: energy stored in any compressed or stretched object, such as a spring or the stretched strings of a tennis racket.

1) Equation: PEelastic = kx2

2) Spring constant: force measured in N/m

I.

Mechanical Energy: the sum of the kinetic energy and all forms of potential energy. A. Equation:

ME KE PE

Energy

Mechanical

Nonmechanical

Kinetic

Potential

Gravitational

Elastic

II.

Conservation of mechanical energy: in the absence of friction, the total mechanical energy remains the same. A. MEi = MEf

B.

1 1 2 mvi mghi mv2 f mgh f 2 2

C. Conservation of mechanical energy and friction:

In the presence of friction, total energy is conserved but mechanical energy is not. Some of the mechanical energy is converted into nonmechanical forms of energy such as heat.

IV.

Power: the rate at which work is done. A. Equation:

W P Dt

B. Power equation (alternative form)

W Fd P Fv Dt Dt

Exchange of energy of a ball thrown in the air:

Exchange of energy on a roller coaster:

Exchange of energy for a pendulum: