PHYSICS FOR ENGINEERS: WORK AND ENERGY

TOPIC OUTCOMES
1. Calculate the work done by constant forces as an object moves through a
displacement.
2. Apply the work-energy theorem to a moving object to one or more forces.
3. Determine when the total mechanical energy of a system is conserved, and apply
conservation of energy to a moving object subject to one or more conservative forces.

PLEASE BRING OUT ¼ SHEET OF PAPER

Credits to Dr. Regualos, PhD, of the Philippine Military Academy for portions the contents of this
presentation.
 PHYSICS FOR ENGINEERS: WORK AND ENERGY

OUTLINE
1. Energy
2. Conservation of Energy
3. Work or the transfer of energy
 ENERGY

Energy is a scalar quantity that describes the state―in particular, the motion and
configuration―of a particle, object, or system
» The SI unit for energy is the joule (1 J = 1 kg·m2/s2 = 1 N·m)

KINETIC ENERGY POTENTIAL ENERGY

Kinetic energy describes Gravitational potential Elastic potential energy of
the motion of a system. It energy of a system is given a particle–spring system is
depends both on the mass by: given by:
and speed of the system: 1
1 2
𝑈 𝑔 =𝑚𝑔𝑦 𝑈 𝑠=
2
𝑘𝑥
2

𝐾= 𝑚𝑣
2 where the reference
configuration is at y = 0 for
gravity near surface of the
Earth.
where x = 0 of the
reference configuration is
at the relaxed position of
the spring.
End
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1 PLUS POINTS 1

What is the kinetic energy of a 0.135-kg grenade thrown at 40.0 m/s?

1
𝐾=
1
2
𝑚𝑣
2
𝑈 𝑔 =𝑚𝑔𝑦 𝑈 𝑠=
2
𝑘𝑥
2

A. 54.0 J

B. 87.0 J

C. 108 J

D. 216 J
 CONSERVATION OF MECHANICAL ENERGY

“Energy can neither be created nor destroyed, it can only

transform from one form to another”
 CONSERVATION OF MECHANICAL ENERGY

The sum of a system’s kinetic and potential energy is its mechanical energy:
E=K+U
• Conservative forces depend only on the relative position of the source and object
• Gravity and the spring force (Hooke’s law) are conservative forces
• Nonconservative forces depend not only on the relative position of the source and object but also
on some other factors such as the relative velocity of the source and the object
• Moving (kinetic and rolling) friction and drag are nonconservative forces

According to the principle of conservation of mechanical energy, if only conservative forces are
acting, the mechanical energy of an isolated system is conserved (or constant):
Ki + Ui = Kf + Uf

• No energy is exchanged between an isolated system and its environment

 CONSERVATION OF MECHANICAL ENERGY

A spring-loaded dart gun is used to launch a small ball of mass m straight up. When the spring is
relaxed, it comes to the end of the gun barrel. If the spring constant is k and the spring is compressed
by yc, find expressions for:
[a] the maximum height ymax of the ball above the end of the gun barrel; and
[b] the muzzle speed of the ball just after leaving the gun barrel (at y = 0).
Ignore the drag force of the air and the friction due to the gun barrel. v=0

y=0 x=0

v=0
 CONSERVATION OF MECHANICAL ENERGY

A spring-loaded dart gun is used to launch a small ball of mass m straight up. When the spring is
relaxed, it comes to the end of the gun barrel. If the spring constant is k and the spring is compressed
by yc, find expressions for:
[a] the maximum height ymax of the ball above the end of the gun barrel; and
[b] the muzzle speed of the ball just after leaving the gun barrel (at y = 0).
Ignore the drag force of the air and the friction due to the gun barrel. v=0
𝐾 𝑖 +𝑈 𝑖 =𝐾 𝑓 +𝑈 𝑓
1 1 1 1 y=0 x=0
𝑚 𝑣 𝑖2 +𝑚𝑔 𝑦 𝑖 + 𝑘 𝑥 𝑖2 = 𝑚 𝑣 𝑓 2+𝑚𝑔 𝑦 𝑓 + 𝑘 𝑥 𝑓 2
2 2 2 2

At Initial time and Final time: v=0

1
0 +𝑚𝑔 ( − 𝑦 𝑐 ) + 𝑘 𝑦 𝑐 2=0 +𝑚𝑔 𝑦 𝑚𝑎𝑥 + 0
2
2
1 𝑘 𝑦𝑐
2
2
𝑘 𝑦 𝑐 − 𝑚𝑔 𝑦 𝑐 =𝑚𝑔 𝑦 𝑚𝑎𝑥 𝑦 𝑚𝑎𝑥 = − 𝑦𝑐
2𝑚𝑔
 CONSERVATION OF MECHANICAL ENERGY

A spring-loaded dart gun is used to launch a small ball of mass m straight up. When the spring is
relaxed, it comes to the end of the gun barrel. If the spring constant is k and the spring is compressed
by yc, find expressions for:
[a] the maximum height ymax of the ball above the end of the gun barrel; and
[b] the muzzle speed of the ball just after leaving the gun barrel (at y = 0).
Ignore the drag force of the air and the friction due to the gun barrel. v=0
𝐾 𝑖 +𝑈 𝑖 =𝐾 𝑓 +𝑈 𝑓
1 1 1 1 y=0 x=0
𝑚 𝑣 𝑖2 +𝑚𝑔 𝑦 𝑖 + 𝑘 𝑥 𝑖2 = 𝑚 𝑣 𝑓 2+𝑚𝑔 𝑦 𝑓 + 𝑘 𝑥 𝑓 2
2 2 2 2

At y = 0 and Final time: v=0

1
𝑚 𝑣 𝑚𝑢𝑧𝑧𝑙𝑒2 + 0 +0 = 0 +𝑚𝑔 𝑦 𝑚𝑎𝑥 + 0
2
1
2
2
𝑚 𝑣 𝑚𝑢𝑧𝑧𝑙𝑒 =𝑚𝑔 𝑦 𝑚𝑎𝑥 𝑣 𝑚𝑢𝑧𝑧𝑙𝑒 =√ 2 𝑔 𝑦 𝑚𝑎𝑥
 Bernoulli’s Energy Equation, Flow of Fluids INTRODUCTION LANG TO, wag muna iiyak
The energy, mechanical energy or the energy
due to a system/object’s position and
motion, was defined beforehand as:
E – Total Energy, mechanical
K – Kinetic Energy
U – Potential Energy
At any point, say point 1, the total energy
can be given by:
- Total energy at point 1
- Kinetic Energy at point 1
- Potential Energy at point 1
By virtue of the conservation of energy, for a
system where two points, say point 1 and 2,
belong, the energy at these points are equal
when neglecting losses. That is:
Where the potential energy U can be further
subdivided to Potential Energy due to
position relative to a datum (Elevation/
Gravitational Potential Energy “EE”) and
Potential Energy due to position relative to
surrounding particles (Pressure Energy “PE”).
For convenience, BEE is usually in terms of
energy head rather than energy per se.
 Bernoulli’s Energy Equation, Flow of Fluids INTRODUCTION LANG TO, wag muna iiyak
Energy head – an important representation of energy Pressure energy on the other hand is not really
particularly in hydraulics and other applications for energy contained on the mass per se, rather, to
the civil engineering discipline. Defined as the oversimplify, this is the energy related to the effort of
amount of energy per 1 unit of weight of a fluid. the fluid to “escape” its container as it is acted upon
by its surrounding.

Kinetic Energy – Energy due to movement.

FOR WATER UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED

Potential Energy due to elevation.
From: ;
For a singular unit of weight, W = 1 N:
 Bernoulli’s Energy Equation, Flow of Fluids INTRODUCTION LANG TO, wag muna iiyak
The more usual form therefore of the BEE you will encounter follows:

If loss of head is considered:

For pump systems, loss of head considered:

For Turbine systems, loss of head considered:

Bernoulli’s Energy Equation, Flow of Fluids INTRODUCTION LANG TO, wag muna iiyak
Bernoulli’s Energy Equation, Flow of Fluids INTRODUCTION LANG TO, wag muna iiyak
 Bernoulli’s Energy Equation, Flow of Fluids INTRODUCTION LANG TO, wag muna iiyak

• The 600-mm pipe shown in

Figure 4-11 conducts water from
reservoir A to a pressure turbine,
which discharges through
another 600-mm pipe into
tailrace B. The loss of head from
A to 1 is 5 times the velocity head
in the pipe and the loss of head
from 2 to B is 0.2 times the
velocity head in the pipe. If the
discharge is 700 L/s, what power
is being given up by the water to
the turbine and what are the
pressure heads at 1 and 2?
ENERGY HEAD
 WORK AND ENERGY

A block of mass 0.250 kg is placed on top of a spring of force constant 5000

N/m and pushed downward 15 cm. After the block is released, it travels upward
leaving the spring. To what maximum height will it reach?
 WORK AND ENERGY

A 0.800-kg block rests on a horizontal, frictionless surface as shown in the figure

below. The block is pressed back against a spring having a constant of k = 526
N/m, compressing the spring by 0.150 m to point A. Then the block is released.
(a) Find the maximum distance d the block travels up the frictionless incline if θ
= 30.0°. (b) How fast is the block going at half its maximum height?
 WORK AND ENERGY
𝐾 𝑖 +𝑈 𝑖 =𝐾 𝑓 +𝑈 𝑓
A 0.800-kg block rests on a horizontal, frictionless
1 1 1 1
surface
𝑚 𝑣 𝑖2 +𝑚𝑔 𝑦 𝑖 + 𝑘 𝑥 𝑖2 = 𝑚 𝑣 𝑓 2+𝑚𝑔 𝑦 𝑓 + 𝑘 𝑥as𝑓 2shown in the figure below. The block is
2 2 2 2
pressed back against a spring having a constant of

() ( ) ( ) () ( ) ( )
2 2 k = 526 N/m, compressing the spring by 0.150 m

1 ( ) 𝑚 ( ) 𝑚 1 𝑁 ( )2 1 ( ) 𝑚 ( ) 𝑚 1 𝑁 2 to point A. Then the block is released. (a) Find the

maximum distance d the block travels up the

0.8𝑘𝑔 0 + 0.8𝑘𝑔 9.81 2 0𝑚+ 526 −0.15𝑚 = 0.8𝑘𝑔 0 + 0.8𝑘𝑔 9.81 2 (h)+ 526 (0𝑚) frictionless incline if θ = 30.0°. (b) How fast is the
block going at half its maximum height?

2 𝑠 𝑠 2𝑚 2 𝑠 𝑠2𝑚
1
2
𝑁
𝑚 ( ) 2 𝑚
0+0+ 526 (−0.15𝑚 ) =0+ ( 0.8𝑘𝑔 ) 9.81 2 (h)+0
𝑠 ( )
End
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1 WORK AND ENERGY

A rifle is thrown straight up during silent drill practice. At what point does the
rifle have the most mechanical energy? Ignore air resistance.
𝐾 𝑖 +𝑈 𝑖 =𝐾 𝑓 +𝑈 𝑓

A. At the highest point of its path.

B. When it is first thrown.

C. Just before it hits the ground.

D. When the rifle is halfway to the highest point of its path.

E. Everywhere; the mechanical energy of the rifle is the same at all of these
 WORK AND ENERGY

If two vectors and lie in a plane at an angle θ, the dot product or scalar
product of these two vectors is given by:

𝐷=⃗
𝑨∙ ⃗
𝑩= 𝐴 𝑥 𝐵𝑥 + 𝐴 𝑦 𝐵 𝑦 + 𝐴𝑧 𝐵𝑧 𝐷=⃗
𝑨∙ ⃗
𝑩= 𝐴𝐵 cos 𝜃

• The result of taking a dot product of two vectors is a scalar quantity

• θ is the smaller angle between two vectors when they are placed tail to tail
• The dot product of a vector with itself gives the square of the magnitude of
that vector:
• The dot product is commutative:
• The dot product is associative:
 WORK AND ENERGY

Work is the amount of energy transferred to (or from) the system by an external
force
• It is a scalar quantity
• It has the dimensions of energy usually expressed as newton meters (N·m) or joules (J)
• Work done by a constant force is the dot product of the force and the displacement:

𝑊 =⃗
𝑭 ∙ ∆ 𝒓⃗ =𝐹 𝑥 ∆ 𝑟 𝑥 +𝐹 𝑦 ∆ 𝑟 𝑦 𝑊 =⃗
𝑭 ∙ ∆ 𝒓⃗ =𝐹 ∆𝑟 cos𝜃
where Fx , Fy and Δrx , Δry are the x- and y- where θ is the angle between and ,
components of and , respectively F and Δr are the (positive) magnitudes
• The work done by a conservative force on a particle does not depend on the particle’s path
• The work done by a non-conservative force does depend on the particle’s path
 WORK AND ENERGY

• A particle moving in the xy plane undergoes a displacement given by

as a constant force acts on the particle. Calculate the work done by on the
particle.
 WORK AND ENERGY

• A particle moving in the xy plane undergoes a displacement given by

as a constant force acts on the particle. Calculate the work done by on the
particle.

𝑊 =⃗
𝑭 ∙ ∆ 𝒓⃗ =¿𝐹 𝑥 ∆ 𝑟 𝑥 + 𝐹 𝑦 ∆ 𝑟 𝑦

( −2.0 ) ( 3.0 )=¿(8.0 ) + ( −6.0 )=¿2.0 𝑁 ∙ 𝑚=2.0 𝐽

𝑊 =( 4.0 ) ( 2.0 ) +¿
End
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1 WORK AND ENERGY

A grocery cart is being pushed at constant speed up a ramp by a constant

force . Find the work done by the force on the cart if the cart undergoes a
displacement of .
𝑊 =⃗𝑭 ∙ ∆ 𝒓⃗ =𝐹 𝑥 ∆ 𝑟 𝑥 +𝐹 𝑦 ∆ 𝑟 𝑦

A. W = 245 J

B. W = 279 J

C. W = –378 J

D. W = –245 J
 WORK AND ENERGY

• A man cleaning a floor pulls a vacuum cleaner with a force of magnitude F =

45.0 N at an angle of 30.0° with the horizontal. Calculate the work done by
the force on the vacuum cleaner as the vacuum cleaner is displaced 3.00 m to
the right.

⃗
𝑭

∆ 𝒓⃗
 WORK AND ENERGY

• A man cleaning a floor pulls a vacuum cleaner with a force of magnitude F =

45.0 N at an angle of 30.0° with the horizontal. Calculate the work done by
the force on the vacuum cleaner as the vacuum cleaner is displaced 3.00 m to
the right.
𝑊 =⃗
𝑭 ∙ ∆ 𝒓⃗ =¿𝐹 ∆ 𝑟 cos 𝜃
117 𝑁 ∙𝑚=117 𝐽
𝑊 =( 45.0 𝑁 ) ( 3.00 𝑚 ) cos30.0 °=¿
⃗
𝑭

∆ 𝒓⃗
End
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1 WORK AND ENERGY

A man cleaning a floor pulls a vacuum cleaner with a force at an angle of 30.0° with
the horizontal. What is the work done by the gravitational force on the vacuum
cleaner as the vacuum cleaner is displaced 3.00 m to the right?

⃗
𝑭
A. W = mg (3.00 m) cos 0°

B. W = mg (3.00 m) cos 30.0°

C. W = mg (3.00 m) cos 90.0°

∆ 𝒓⃗
D. W = mg (3.00 m) cos 120.0°
 WORK - KINETIC ENERGY THEOREM

• Work–kinetic energy theorem: The total work done on a particle by

all external forces equals the change in the particle’s kinetic energy:

𝑊 𝑡𝑜𝑡 =∆ 𝐾
1 2 1 2
𝑊 𝑡𝑜𝑡 = 𝐾 𝑓 − 𝐾 𝑖 = 𝑚 𝑣 𝑓 − 𝑚 𝑣𝑖
2 2
 WORK - KINETIC ENERGY THEOREM

In a common laboratory experiment, a small cart of mass m =

0.78 kg is pulled up a ramp by a hanging weight. The tension
FBD:
in the rope is 6.0 N. The experiment is designed so that
friction is negligible. If the cart started from rest, determine
its speed at 1.5 m up the ramp.
 WORK AND KINETIC – ENERGY THEOREM

In a common laboratory experiment, a small cart of mass m =

0.78 kg is pulled up a ramp by a hanging weight. The tension
FBD:
in the rope is 6.0 N. The experiment is designed so that
friction is negligible. If the cart started from rest, determine
its speed at 1.5 m up the ramp.
𝑊 𝑡𝑜𝑡 =∆ 𝐾 ¿ 𝑊 𝑇 +𝑊 𝑁 +𝑊 𝑔
𝑊 𝑇 =𝐹 𝑇 ∆ 𝑟 cos 0 °¿ ( 6.0 𝑁 )( 1.5 𝑚 )¿ 9.0 𝑁 ∙ 𝑚
𝑊 𝑁 =𝐹 𝑁 ∆ 𝑟 cos 90 °¿ 0

𝑊 𝑔=𝐹 𝑔 ∆ 𝑟 cos97 °¿ ( 0.78 𝑘𝑔 ) ( 9.81 𝑚/ 𝑠 2 ) ( 1.5 𝑚 ) cos 97 °¿ −1.4 𝑁 ∙𝑚

𝑊 𝑡𝑜𝑡 =¿ 9.0 𝑁 ∙ 𝑚+ 0+ ( −1.4 𝑁 ∙𝑚 )¿ 7.6 𝑁 ∙ 𝑚

𝑊 𝑡𝑜𝑡 =∆ 𝐾 ¿
1
2
2
𝑚𝑣𝑓 −0
2𝑊 𝑡𝑜𝑡
𝑚
=𝑣 𝑓
2
𝑣𝑓=
√𝑚
¿
√
2 𝑊 𝑡𝑜𝑡 2 (7.6 𝑁 ∙𝑚 )
0.78 𝑘𝑔
¿ 4.4 𝑚/ 𝑠
End
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1 WORK AND KINETIC – ENERGY THEOREM

A total amount of work equal to 1.5 J is required to compress the spring in a

spring‑gun. A 0.015‑kg marble is attached to the spring. What is the “launch
speed” of the marble when the spring-gun is fired? (Hint: Work-kinetic energy
theorem and the initial speed is zero)
1 1
𝑊 𝑡𝑜𝑡 = ∆ 𝐾 = 𝑚 𝑣 𝑓 2 − 𝑚 𝑣 𝑖2
2 2

A. 14 m/s

B. 15 m/s

C. 18 m/s

D. 21 m/s
What is the kinetic energy of a 0.135-kg grenade thrown at 40.0 m/s?
1
𝐾=
1
2
𝑚𝑣
2
𝑈 𝑔 =𝑚𝑔𝑦 𝑈 𝑠=
2
𝑘𝑥
2

A. 54.0 J

B. 87.0 J

C. 108 J

D. 216 J
A rifle is thrown straight up during silent drill practice. At what point does the
rifle have the most mechanical energy? Ignore air resistance.
𝐾 𝑖 +𝑈 𝑖 =𝐾 𝑓 +𝑈 𝑓

A. At the highest point of its path.

B. When it is first thrown.

C. Just before it hits the ground.

D. When the rifle is halfway to the highest point of its path.

E. Everywhere; the mechanical energy of the rifle is the same at all of these
A grocery cart is being pushed at constant speed up a ramp by a constant
force . Find the work done by the force on the cart if the cart undergoes a
displacement of .
𝑊 =⃗𝑭 ∙ ∆ 𝒓⃗ =𝐹 𝑥 ∆ 𝑟 𝑥 +𝐹 𝑦 ∆ 𝑟 𝑦

A. W = 245 J

B. W = 279 J

C. W = –378 J

D. W = –245 J
A man cleaning a floor pulls a vacuum cleaner with a force at an angle of 30.0° with
the horizontal. What is the work done by the gravitational force on the vacuum
cleaner as the vacuum cleaner is displaced 3.00 m to the right?

⃗
𝑭
A. W = mg (3.00 m) cos 0°

B. W = mg (3.00 m) cos 30.0°

C. W = mg (3.00 m) cos 90.0°

∆ 𝒓⃗
D. W = mg (3.00 m) cos 120.0°
A total amount of work equal to 1.5 J is required to compress the spring in a
spring‑gun. A 0.015‑kg marble is attached to the spring. What is the “launch
speed” of the marble when the spring-gun is fired? (Hint: Work-kinetic energy
theorem and the initial speed is zero)
1 1
𝑊 𝑡𝑜𝑡 = ∆ 𝐾 = 𝑚 𝑣 𝑓 2 − 𝑚 𝑣 𝑖2
2 2

A. 14 m/s

B. 15 m/s

C. 18 m/s

D. 21 m/s