WORK & ENERGY

WORK
 Definition of Work W
 The work, W, done by a constant force on an object is defined as
the product of the component of the force along the direction of
displacement and the magnitude of the displacement
W = Fd
W= ∙ = | || | cos q
 F is the magnitude of the force
 Δ x is the magnitude of the
object’s displacement
 q is the angle between
 Work Unit
 This gives no information about
 the time it took for the displacement to occur

 the velocity or acceleration of the object

 Work is a scalar quantity

 SI Unit
 Newton • meter = Joule

N • m = J

 J = kg • m2 / s2 = ( kg • m / s2 ) • m

W  ( F cos q ) x
 Definition of Work W
Two restrictions to using the formula above to calculate work
done on an object by a force.

• The force must be a constant force, that is, it must not change
in magnitude or direction as the object moves.
• The object must be particle-like. This means that the object
must be rigid; all parts of it must move together, in the same
direction
 Work: + or -?
 Work can be positive, negative, or zero. The sign of the work
depends on the direction of the force relative to the
displacement

A force does positive work when it has a vector component

in the same direction as the displacement.
It does negative work when it has a vector component in the
opposite direction.
It does zero work when it has no such vector component
EXAMPLE: WHEN WORK IS ZERO

• A man carries a bucket of water horizontally at

constant velocity.
• The force does no work on the bucket
• Displacement is horizontal
• Force is vertical
• cos 90° = 0
W  ( F cos q )x
EXAMPLE: WORK CAN BE POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE

• Work is positive when lifting the box

• Work would be negative if lowering the box
• The force would still be upward, but the
displacement would be downward
 WORK
Examples:
1. A man cleaning a floor pulls a
vacuum cleaner with a force of
magnitude = 50 at an angle of
30° with the horizontal. Calculate
the work done by the force on the
vacuum cleaner as the vacuum
cleaner is displaced 3 to the
right?
 WORK
Examples:
2. A particle moving in the plane undergoes a displacement given
by = 2 ̂+ 3 ̂ as a constant force = 5 ̂+ 2 ̂ acts on the
particle. Calculate the work done by on the particle.
3. Steve exerts a steady force of magnitude 210 on a stalled car as
he pushes it a distance of 18 . The car also has a flat tire, so to
make the car track straight, Steve must push at angle of 30° to the
direction of the motion. How much work must Steve do?
Work Done by a Constant Force

 The work W done on a system by an agent F
exerting a constant force on the system is  
F r
the product of the magnitude F of the force, 
the magnitude Δr of the displacement of the r
point of application of the force, and cosθ, I II
where θ is the angle between the force and WII   Fr
displacement vectors: WI  0

   F
W  F  r  Fr cos q F
 
r r
III IV
WIII  Fr WIV  Fr cos q
WORK DONE BY MULTIPLE FORCES

• If more than one force acts on an object, then the

total work is equal to the algebraic sum of the work
done by the individual forces

Wnet   Wby individual forces

• Remember work is a scalar, so
this is the algebraic sum

Wnet  Wg  WN  WF  ( F cos q )r

 WORK AND MULTIPLE FORCES

• An Eskimo pulls a sled as shown. The

total mass of the sled is 50.0 kg, and he
exerts a force of 1.20 × 102 N on the
sled by pulling on the rope. How much
work does he do on the sled if θ =
30°and he pulls the sled 5.0 m ?
W  ( F cos q )x
 (1.20  10 2 N )(cos 30 )(5.0m)
 5.2  10 2 J
WORK AND MULTIPLE FORCES

• Suppose µk = 0.200, How much work done on

the sled by friction, and the net work if θ = 30°
and he pulls the sled 5.0 m ?
Fnet , y  N  mg  F sin q  0
N  mg  F sin q
W fric  ( f k cos180 )x   f k x
   k Nx    k (mg  F sin q )x
Wnet  WF  W fric  WN  Wg
 (0.200)(50.0kg  9.8m / s 2

 1.2 10 N sin 30 )(5.0m)

2   5.2  10 2 J  4.3  10 2 J  0  0
 4.3 10 2 J  90.0 J
 WORK

EXERCISES
ENERGY
Energy is defined as the capacity to do work. A system that
possesses energy has the capability to do work on another. Energy
is expressed in Joules, and just like work, it is a scalar quantity
Some forms of energy:
Mechanical:
Kinetic energy (associated with motion, within system)
Potential energy (associated with position, within system)
Chemical
Electromagnetic
Nuclear
Energy is conserved. It can be transferred from one object to
another or change in form, but cannot be created or destroyed
 POTENTIAL ENERGY
Potential energy, represented by PE, is the energy possessed by a
body by virtue of its position. Gravitational potential energy is
energy due to position of an object relative to Earth’s ground. A
raised object possesses gravitational potential energy. Gravitational
potential energy ( ) is given by:
 KINETIC ENERGY
• Kinetic energy associated with the motion of an object
1 2
KE  mv
2
• Scalar quantity with the same unit as work
• Work is related to kinetic energy
1 2 1 2
mv  mv0  Fnet x
2 2

Wnet  KEf  KEi  KE

WHY 1 ?
KE  mv 2

April 4, 2024
 ENERGY
Examples:
1. A 35 child climbs a 6 long slide that is inclined 30° with the
horizontal. What is the gravitational potential energy of the child
with respect to the ground when it reaches the top of the slide?
2. Jane is initially walking at a certain speed so that her kinetic
energy is 150 . Then the rain starts to fall and Jane runs at a rate of
4.2 / . She has a mass of 50 .
a) What is her initial speed before the rain starts?
b) Find the change in Jane’s kinetic energy when she starts running.
 ENERGY

EXERCISES
 WORK AND KINETIC ENERGY
The driver of a 1.00103 kg car traveling on the interstate at 35.0 m/s slam
on his brakes to avoid hitting a second vehicle in front of him, which had
come to rest because of congestion ahead. After the breaks are applied, a
constant friction force of 8.00103 N acts on the car. Ignore air resistance.
(a) At what minimum distance should the brakes be applied to avoid a
collision with the other vehicle?
(b) If the distance between the vehicles is initially only 30.0 m, at what
speed would the collisions occur?
 WORK AND KINETIC ENERGY
• (a) We know v0  35.0m / s, v  0, m  1.00  103 kg , f k  8.00  103 N
• Find the minimum necessary stopping distance
1 2 1 2
Wnet  W fric  Wg  WN  W fric  mv f  mvi
1 2 2 2
 f k x  0  mv0
1
2
 (8.00 103 N )x   (1.00 103 kg )(35.0m / s ) 2
2
x  76.6m

April 4, 2024
 WORK AND KINETIC ENERGY
• (b) We know x  30.0m, v0  35.0m / s, m  1.00 103 kg , f k  8.00 103 N
• Find the speed at impact.
• Write down the work-energy theorem:
1 1
Wnet  W fric   f k x  mv 2f  mvi2
2
2 2
v 2f  v02  f k x
m
2
v  (35m / s )  (
2
f
2
)(8.00  10 3
N )(30 m )  745m 2
/ s 2

1.00  103 kg

v f  27.3m / s