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Work , Energy and Power

CJ - Assignment 3
6.5 The Conservation of Mechanical Energy
Problems 32, 34, 38, 40 page 190

Rotational Kinetic Gravitational Elastic Potential

Work Kinetic Energy
Energy Potential Energy Energy
Short Distances:
𝐺𝑃𝐸 = 𝑚𝑔⃗ℎ
𝑊 = 𝐹⃗ 𝑑 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 KE = ½ mv2 RKE = ½ I ω2 Larger Distances: EPE = ½ k x2
𝐺𝑚1 𝑚2
𝐺𝑃𝐸 =
2
AP
AP AP Short Distances:
AP AP
∆𝑈𝑔 = 𝑚𝑔⃗∆𝑦
∆𝐸 = 𝑊 = 𝐹⃗|| 𝑑 = 𝐹⃗ 𝑑𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃
K = ½ mv2 K = ½ I ω2 Larger Distances: Us = ½ k x2
𝐺𝑚1 𝑚2
𝑈𝐺 = −
2

Strategy for Working Energy Problems

1. Draw a diagram of the situation including the important “states”.

2. Select the system and its starting (E1) and ending State (E2). Write the Law of Conservation of Energy (W + E1 = E2)
3. Write the Equation for each State, include all types of Energy (use the initials for the forms of energy)

W + E1 = E2
W+ { KE1 + RKE1 + GPE1 + EPE1 } = { KE2 + RKE1 + GPE2 + EPE2 }

4. Cross out values that are equal to zero to simplify the equation.

5. Substitute in the equations for the remaining forms of energy.

1 1 1 1 1 1
𝑊 + { 𝑚𝑣12 + 𝐼𝜔12 + 𝑚𝑔ℎ 1 + 𝑚𝑣12 } = { 𝑚𝑣22 + 𝐼𝜔22 + 𝑚𝑔ℎ 2 + 𝑚𝑣22 }
2 2 2 2 2 2

6. Solve the remaining equation for the desired variable.

7. Plug and Chug

STRATEGIES – Mechanics problems (everything but Electricity problems) can be broken down into 3 strategies:
1. Equations of Motion (also called Kinematics)/ Newton’s Laws
2. Momentum/Impulse/Collisions
3. Energy & Law of Conservation of Energy

Rarely can more than one strategy be used. Before you start determine the best method. If it doesn’t work, try another
method. Below is an example of one time when either Kinematics or Energy can be used to solve the problem. You
choose which is easier for you.
An elevator has an unknown mass. The elevator is at the top floor of the Sears Tower that is 440 meters high. If the cable holding
the elevator were to snap, what velocity would it have when it hits the ground floor? (We must assume no friction is present)
Solution Using Law of Conservation of Energy Solution Using Kinematic Equations
(Diagram Left out ) (Diagram Left out )
The mass is not given so it must cancel. Vi = 0
h1 = 440 meters Vf = ? (Find this)
acceleration due to gravity = 9.8 m/s2 ≈ 10 m/s2 acceleration due to gravity = 9.8 m/s2 ≈ 10 m/s2
h2 = 0 meters Δy = h = 440 m
All the energy in State 1 is gravitational energy; so all
others can be cancelled. No work is included. All the Assume down is positive
energy in State 2 is in the form of kinetic energy so all
𝑣𝑓2 = 𝑣𝑖2 + 2𝑔𝑥
others can be cancelled.
The first term cancels because initial velocity = 0, this
W + E1 = E2 leaves:

W + {KE1 + GPE1 + EPE1 } = {KE2 + GPE2 + EPE2} 𝑣𝑓2 = 2𝑔ℎ

1
𝑚𝑔ℎ1 = 𝑚𝑣22 𝑣 = √2𝑔ℎ
2
solving this for velocity gives Silly that these come out the same? Nah, Physics works!
𝑣 = √2𝑔ℎ

Starting with
Ending with Work KE RKE GPE (short) GPE (long) EPE
Work

KE

RKE

GPE (short)

GPE (long)

EPE
32. A gymnast is swinging on a high bar. The distance between his waist and
the bar is 1.1 m, as the drawing shows. At the top of the swing his speed is
momentarily zero. Ignoring friction and treating the gymnast as if all his mass
is located at his waist, find his speed at the bottom of the swing.

REASONING The only two forces that act on the gymnast are his weight and
the force exerted on his hands by the high bar. The latter is the (non-
conservative) reaction force to the force exerted on the bar by the gymnast, as
predicted by Newton's third law. This force, however, does no work because it
points perpendicular to the circular path of motion. Thus, Wnc  0 J, and we
can apply the principle of conservation of mechanical energy.

SOLUTION The conservation principle gives

1 1
2
mv f2  mgh f  2 mv 02  mgh 0
Ef E0
Since the gymnast's speed is momentarily zero at the top of the swing, v0  0 m/s. If we take hf  0 m at the
bottom of the swing, then h0  2r , where r is the radius of the circular path followed by the gymnast's waist. Making
these substitutions in the above expression and solving for vf , we obtain

vf  2gh0  2g(2r)  2(9.80 m/s2 )(2  1.1 m)  6.6 m/s

34. The skateboarder in the drawing starts down the left side of the
ramp with an initial speed of 5.4 m/s. If non-conservative forces, such
as kinetic friction and air resistance, are negligible, what would be the
height h of the highest point reached by the skateboarder on the right
side of the ramp?

The distance h in the drawing in the text is the difference between the
skateboarder’s final and initial heights (measured, for example,
with respect to the ground), or h = hf  h0. The difference in the heights can be determined by using the
conservation of mechanical energy. This conservation law is applicable because nonconservative forces are
negligible, so the work done by them is zero (Wnc = 0 J). Thus, the skateboarder’s final total mechanical energy Ef is
equal to his initial total mechanical energy E0:

1 mv 2
2 f  mghf  1 mv 2
2 0  mgh0 (6.9b)
Ef E0

Solving Equation 6.9b for hf  h0, we find that

1 v2  12 vf2
hf  h0  2 0
g
h

SOLUTION Using the fact that v0 = 5.4 m/s and vf = 0 m/s (since the skateboarder comes to a momentary rest), the
distance h is

1  5.4 
m/s   12  0 m/s 
2
1 v2  12 vf2
h 2 0  2  1.5 m
g 9.80 m/s 2
38. The drawing shows a skateboarder moving at 5.4 m/s
along a horizontal section of track that is slanted upward
by 48 degrees above the horizontal at its end, which is
0.40 m above the ground. When she leaves the track, she
follows the characteristic path of projectile motion.
Ignoring friction and air resistance, find the maximum
height H to which she rises above the end of the track.

REASONING To find the maximum height H above the end of the track we will analyze the projectile motion of the
skateboarder after she leaves the track. For this analysis we will use the principle of conservation of mechanical energy,
which applies because friction and air resistance are being ignored. In applying this principle to the projectile motion,
however, we will need to know the speed of the skateboarder when she leaves the track. Therefore, we will begin by
determining this speed, also using the conservation principle in the process. Our approach, then, uses the conservation
principle twice.

SOLUTION Applying the conservation of mechanical energy in the form of Equation 6.9b, we have
1
2
mvf2  mghf  1
2
mv02  mgh0
Final mechanical energy Initial mechanical energy
at end of track on flat part of track

We designate the flat portion of the track as having a height h0 = 0 m and note from the drawing that its end is
at a height of hf = 0.40 m above the ground. Solving for the final speed at the end of the track gives

vf  v02  2 g  h0  hf    5.4 m/s   2  9.80 m/s 2   0 m    0.40 m    4.6 m/s

2

This speed now becomes the initial speed v0 = 4.6 m/s for the next application of the conservation principle. At
the maximum height of her trajectory she is traveling horizontally with a speed vf that equals the horizontal component
of her launch velocity. Thus, for the next application of the conservation principle vf = (4.6 m/s) cos 48º. Applying the
conservation of mechanical energy again, we have

1
2
mvf2  mghf  1
2
mv02  mgh0
Final mechanical energy Initial mechanical energy
at maximum height of trajectory upon leaving the track

Recognizing that h0 = 0.40 m and hf = 0.40 m + H and solving for H give

1
2
mvf2  mg  0.40 m   H   12 mv02  mg  0.40 m 

 4.6 m/s    4.6 m/s  cos 48

2 2
v02  vf2
H   0.60 m
2g 2  9.80 m/s 2 
40. A particle, starting from point A in the drawing, is
projected down the curved runway. Upon leaving the
runway at point B, the particle is traveling straight
upward and reaches a height of 4.00 m above the floor
before falling back down. Ignoring friction and air
resistance, find the speed of the particle at point A.

REASONING AND SOLUTION The conservation of energy applied between point A and the top of the trajectory gives

KEA + mghA = mgh

where h = 4.00 m. Rearranging, we find

KEA = mg(h – hA)

or

 
vA  2 g  h  hA   2 9.80 m/s 2  4.00 m  3.00 m   4.43 m/s