Work(W),Energy(E) and Power (P) and Efficiency

(a) The Definition and S.I. unit of Work

• Work is defined as the product of the applied force,F on the object and its displacement,s in
the direction of the net force.
• W = Fs where W = Work, F = force and s = displacement
• The S.I.unit for Work is Joule(J) where I J = 1 N m
• Work is a scalar quantity.

Work done also can get from the graph

force-displacement.

Example 1

A horse pulls a carriage with a total force 40 N for 50m . Calculate the work done on the
carriage by the horse.

Solution

Example 2

Figure shows an ice cube is pulled by a force 20N. At an angle of 60o to the surface of the smooth
surface.

Calculate the done on the ice cube?

Example 3

Figure shows a graph force-displacement of spring which is compressed by a force increases

from 0 N to 100 N for 0.15 m.

Calculate the work done on the spring.

Solution

(b) The Definition and S.I. unit of Energy(E)

• Energy is the capacity or ability of a system to do work. Without energy the work cannot
done.
• When work is done , energy is transferred to the object or change into a different form.
• Energy can exist in various form ; potential energy(Gravitational Potential Energy, Elastic
Potential Energy, Electrical Potential Energy , Atomic Potential Energy ) kinetic
energy,mechanical energy, heat energy,sound energy, electrical energy and nuclear energy.
• The S.I. of energy is Joule (J).Energy is scalar quantity.

Example 4

A student lifts a brick of mass 0.8 kg from the floor to the table top of height 1.2 m.Determine

(a) work done on the brick

(b) energy is used to lift the brick.

Solution
Kinetic Energy ( Ek )

Kinetic energy is the energy possessed by a moving object.

Ek = ½ mv2 m = mass ,

v = velocity

Example 5

A bullet of mass 0.02 kg moves at a velocity 150 ms-1 .What is the kinetic energy of the bullet ?

Solution

Example 6

A moving lorry of mass 800 kg has an energy of 160 k J. What is the velocity
of the lorry.

Solution

Gravitational Potential Energy ( Eg)

• The Gravitational potential energy of any object is the energy stored in

the object because of its height above the earth’s surface
• Eg = m g h where m = mass, g = acceleration due to
gravity, h = height

Example 7

A ball of mass 0.2 kg is thrown to a height 15 m. How much gravitational potential energy does
the ball gain?

Solution

Example 8

A boy of mass 50 kg sitting on the top end of an inclined sliding board has an
energy of 2 kJ. What is the height the inclined sliding board from the ground?
Solution

Principle of Conservation of Energy

• Energy cannot be created or destroyed.

• Energy can be transformed from one kind to another, but the total energy in a system stays
the same or is conserved .

Example 9

A stone is thrown with a velocity 20 ms-1. What is the maximum height can be reached by the
stone?

Solution

Example 10

Figure shows a ball of mass 0.5 kg slides from rest at point A through a a frictionless rail height
0.8 m down . What is the velocity of the ball at the bottom of the rail?

Solution

Example 11

Figure shows a trolley is released from a rest at point X through a frictionless inclined plane.
 What is the velocity of the trolley at point Y.

Example 12

Figure shows a ball moves on a frictionless curve track with a velocity 6 ms-1 at point A.

What is the velocity of the ball when it reaches at point B?

Solution

(c) The Definition and S.I. unit of Power (P)

• Power is the rate at which work is done or

• Power is the rate at which energy is changed or transferred.
• P= W or P = Fs = F v

t t

@ P=E

P = Power , W = Work, E = Energy , t = time v = velocity

• The S.I. unit of power is Watt(W)

• 1 W = 1 Js-1

Example 13

A monkey of mass 20 kg climbs a coconut tree of height 15 m in 2.5 s. What is the

power of the monkey?

Solution

(d) The Definition of Efficiency

Efficiency = useful energy transferred x 100%

total energy supplied

= useful energy output x 100%

energy input

Example 14

A man pulls a box of mass 8 kg with a total force 100 N. After pulled for 5 m ,the box is moving
at a speed of 6 ms-1. Calculate the efficiency with which the man is using his energy to pull the
box.

Solution

Example 15

A crane lifts a load of 400 kg to a height of 100 m in 20 s. If the power input is 25 000 W,
calculate

(a) the useful energy output

(b) the energy input

(c) the efficiency of the crane

Solution

(e) Appreciating the importance of maximising the efficiency of devices.

• Energy conservation demands that the total energy output of a machine

or device must equal its energy input.
• However , when we measure the energy output as work done on the load
by a machine or device, we find it is less than the energy input
• It is because the machine or device also does work against frictional
forces and sometimes does work in moving itself.
• The work done against friction converts input energy into wasted heat
energy and a little noise energy.
• So the energy equation now looks like this:

Energy = useful energy + wasted energy

Input output output

• Maximising the efficiency of machine or device makes the best use of

the input energy and reduces wasted energy output.
• Maximising the efficiency of machine and device can helps

(a) to conserve resources since fossil fuels such as coal, petroleum

and natural gas are non-renewable resources

(b) to protect the enviroment from deforestation,oil spills and

radioactive wastes

(c) to reduce the emission of air pollutants and greenhouse gases

from power stations

(d) to reduce the energy bill

• The following are several ways of increasing the efficiency of machines

and devices

Machines:
 Moving surfaces are made as smooth as Possible.

• Lubricants such as oil and silicone are used to separate surfaces.

• Rollers and ball bearings are used to separate rotating axles from their mountings.
• Cushions of air are used as elastic lubricant.
• Machines which move through fluids are made streamlined in shape to reduce the frictional
drag.

Heat engines:

Heat engine must be designed with capability to do a greater amount of mechanical work while
discharging waste heat at a lower temperature.

Electrical devices:

(i) Lamp:

• A fluorescent lamp is more efficiencient than a filament light bulb.

• Use a lamp with a reflector so that the illumination can directed to specific area.
• A lighting of a room should depend on the size of the room.

(ii) Water heater

When having a shower during a hot weather, a lower temperature is needed

(iii) Refrigerator

• The doors of the refrigerator must always be shut tight.

• Thermostat should be used in refrigerator to control the temperature.
• The power of refrigerator needed depend on the size of the family.

Another ways:

Recycling also conserves energy resources. Recycling saves energy because we do not have to
make new bottles, papers e.t.c.