Chapter No.

Questions/ Answers
Q.No.1: Define work and unit of work.
Ans: Work: In physics, work is said to be done when a force acts on a body and body covers some
distance in the direction of the force.
OR
The product of force and the distance covered in the direction of the force is equal
to the work done.
Explanation: Suppose a force F acts on a body and body covers a distance S in the direction
of the force, then work done can be given as,
Work = Force x Distance
W = FxS
If force ‘F’ makes an angle ө with the horizontal then work done in horizontal and vertical
directions is given as,
Work done in horizontal direction = Wx = FS cosө
Work done in vertical direction = Wy = F S sinө

Unit of Work: The S.I.unit of work is Joule ( J )

Joule: work done will be one joule if force of one Newton acts on a body and the body covers
a distance of one meter in the in the direction of force.
1 J = 1N x 1m i.e. 1J = 1Nm
Q.No.2: Define power and its unit.
Ans: Power: The rate of doing work with respect to time is called power.
If W is the amount of work done in time‘t’ then power ‘P’ is given as,
Power =

P=
Unit of Power: In system international, the unit of power is Watt (W) and is defined as
Watt: If a body does one joule of work in one second then its power will be one watt.

Q.No.3: Define kinetic energy (K.E).Derive an equation of kinetic energy of a moving body.
Ans. Kinetic Energy: The energy of a body due to its motion is called kinetic energy (K.E).
Equation of Kinetic Energy:
Suppose a body of mass ‘m’ is moving with velocity ‘v’.If an opposing force F is acting
through a distance ‘S’ and brings it to rest, then according to second eq. of motion,
2 aS = vf2– vi2
Putting vi = v , vf = 0 and a =

2(- ) S = 02 – v2

-2 = - v2
2 FS = mv2
Or FS = mv2
As FS shows the work done ‘W’ so
W = FS
Putting value of FS W= mv2
 This work done against the opposing force is equal to the kinetic energy. So,
K.E = mv2
Q.No.4: What is potential energy? What will be the P.E. of a body of mass ‘m’ at a height ‘h’?
Ans: Potential Energy: Energy of a body due to its position is called potential energy (P.E).
Gravitational Potential Energy. The ability of a body to do work due to its specific
height from the surface of earth is called gravitational potential energy (GPE).
The gravitational potential energy of a body of mass ‘m’ at a height ‘h’ from the surface of
earth is given by the formula,
P.E = mgh
Q.No.5: Explain the interconversion of K.E and P.E. of a freely falling body.
Ans: Suppose a ball of mass 0.25 kg is lifted to position ‘A’ at a height
of 10 m from the surface of earth as shown in the figure. As the
ball is at rest at ‘A’ so its initial velocity will be zero i.e. Vi = 0
Therefore K.E. of the ball at point ‘A’ is zero and it’s whole
energy will be potential energy.
Thus P.E. at position ‘A’
P.E. = mgh
= 0.25 x10 x 10
= 25 J
When the ball is allowed to fall freely under the action of gravity
from position ‘A’ to the surface of earth at point ‘B’ its P.E. will
be zero as its height ‘h’ is zero.
Now the velocity of the ball with which it strikes the ground can
be calculated as, using
2 aS = vf2– vi2
Putting vi = 0 , a = g = 10 m/s2 , S = 10 m

2 x 10 x 10 = vf2 - 02

200 = vf2

vf2 = v2 = 200
K.E. at position ‘B’
K.E. = mv2

= x0.25 x 200 (by putting values)

K.E = 25 J
Thus P.E. of the ball at position ‘A’ is equal to K.E. of the ball at position ‘B’, it means
Increase in K.E. = decrease in P. E .

Q.No.6: State and explain law of conservation of energy.

Ans: Law of Conservation of Energy:
Energy can neither be created nor destroyed but it can be changed from one form to
another form. This is called law of conservation of energy.
Explanation: Suppose a body of mass ‘m’ is at a height ‘h’ as shown in fig.
At point ‘A’ the body is at rest so Vi = 0 , so at point ‘A’ K.E is zero but
P.E. is mgh
Total Energy at Point ‘A’.

Et = K.E + P.E
= 0 + mgh
Et = mgh …………………..(i)
 When the body is dropped from point ‘A’ to point ‘B’ then its
P.E. is converted into K.E. i.e. its P.E. will decrease and K.E.
will increase from zero to some value.

Now we find K.E and P.E of the body at point ‘B’

Initial velocity at ‘A’ Vi = o
Velocity of the body at ‘B’ = vf = v = ?
Distance covered = S
Acceleration = a= g
Now using
vf2– vi2 = 2aS

v2 - 02 = 2gS

v2 = 2gS
K.E at point ‘B’
K.E. = mv2
Putting value of v2
K.E = m (2gS)
K.E. = mgS

Potential energy at point ‘B’

(P.E)B = mg (h – S)

(P.E)B = mgh - mgS

Total energy at point ‘B’
Et = (K.E)B + (P.E)B
Et = mgS + mgh – mgS
Et = mgh ……………………….(ii)
From equations (i) and (ii) we see that total energy of the body at point ‘A and at point ‘B’ is
the same This proves that energy can be changed from one form to another form but total
energy of the system always remains constant.