Work-Energy Theorem

Compiled by
Mphiriseni Khwanda
28 April 2022
What is work scientifically?
 What is work scientifically?
• The product of net force and the displacement in the direction of net
force.
• Mathematically: .
• The is to make sure that the component of force that is doing
work must cause an object to move in the same direction as the
force.
4.4 Work Done by a Constant Force

Example 1 Pulling a Suitcase-on-Wheels

Find the work done if the force is 45.0-N, the angle is 50.0
degrees, and the displacement is 75.0 m.

 
W  F cos  s  45.0 N cos 50.0 75.0 m 

 2170 J
 4.6 Work Done by a Constant Force

Example 3 Accelerating a Crate

The truck is accelerating at Do you think the static frictional force

a rate of +1.50 m/s2. The mass is pointing in the correct direction
of the crate is 120-kg and it
does not slip. The magnitude of
the displacement is 65 m.

What is the total work done on

the crate by all of the forces
acting on it?
4.7 Work Done by a Constant Force

The angle between the displacement

and the normal force is 90 degrees.

The angle between the displacement

and the weight is also 90 degrees.

W  F cos 90 s  0

The angle between the displacement

and the friction force is 0 degrees.
 
f s  ma  120 kg  1.5 m s 2  180 N

W  180 N cos 065 m   1.2  10 4 J

4.12 Conservative Versus Nonconservative Forces

DEFINITION OF A CONSERVATIVE FORCE

Version 1 A force is conservative when the work it does

on a moving object is independent of the path between the
object’s initial and final positions.

Version 2 A force is conservative when it does no work

on an object moving around a closed path, starting and
finishing at the same point.
DEFINITION OF A NON-CONSERVATIVE FORCE

A force is non-conservative when the work it does on a moving object is dependent

of the path between the object’s initial and final positions.

Non conservative forces increases as the distance covered during contact increases
causing an energy loss due to increased heat and light.
 Forces
Not conservative
Conservative Nonconservative
Gravitational force Frictional force
Elastic spring force Air resistance
Electric Force Tension/ Normal force
the work they do the work they do
on a moving object is on a moving object
independent of the path depend on the path
between the between the
object’s initial and final object’s initial and final
positions. positions.
The Work-Energy Theorem and Kinetic Energy: horizontally along the plane

Consider a constant net external force acting on an object.

The object is displaced a distance s, in the same direction as
the net force.
F
s
The work is simply W   F s  ma s
W  mas   m v  v  mv  mv 1
2  2
f
2
o  1
2
2
f
1
2
2
o

v 2f  vo2  2ax  ax   12 v 2f  vo2 

 THE WORK-ENERGY THEOREM: Horizontally

When a net external force does work on and object, the kinetic
energy of the object changes according to

Wnet  KE  KE o  mv  mv 1
2
2 1
2
2
o
 Work-Energy Theorem : vertically

W  F cos  s
but s  h f  ho
hence s  ho  h f

Wgravity  mg ho  h 
  mg h  h0 
  PE
Hence the work done by the force of gravity is equal to minus
the change in potential energy
 Work-Energy Theorem: Combination of both Conservative and Nonconservative Forces

In normal situations both conservative and non-

conservative forces act simultaneously on an object, so
the work done by the net external force can be written as

W net
 Wc  Wnc

W net
 KEf  KEo  KE

Wc  Wgravity  mgho  mgh f  PE o  PE f   PE

 W  Wc  Wnc

KE  PE  Wnc

THE WORK-ENERGY THEOREM becomes:
Wnc  KE  PE
Wnc  KE  PE  KEf  KEo   PE f  PE o 
Wnc  KEf  PE f   KEo  PE o 
Wnc  E f  E o
If the net work on an object by nonconservative forces is zero, then its
energy does not change: E E
f o
4.13 The Conservation of Mechanical Energy

THE PRINCIPLE OF CONSERVATION OF MECHANICAL ENERGY

The total mechanical energy (E = KE + PE) of an object

remains constant as the object moves, provided that the net
work done by external nonconservative forces is
zero.
In simple terms,
total mechanical energy before = total mechanical energy after
What is the catch?
Condition for that to be true

provided that the net work done by external nonconservative forces is

zero
6.5 The Conservation of Mechanical Energy
 SUMMARY: WORK-ENERGY THEOREM
Case 1: Horizontally
The work done by the net force (external, eg forces applied) on the object is equal to the change in the
object’s kinetic energy.
(

Case 2: Vertically
The work done by the net force(external, eg force of gravity) on the object is equal to minus the change in the
object’s potential energy
𝐶𝑊 =𝑭 . 𝒅=− ∆ 𝑃 =− mg(h − h )
𝒈 𝐸 0
𝒎𝒈 . 𝒅 =−mg (h −h 0)
Case 3: The general case (the combination of the two)
The work done by the non-conservative forces (eg friction) on the object is equal the change in both the kinetic and
potential energies of the object
𝑾 𝑵𝑪 =∆ 𝑲 𝑬 +∆ 𝑷 𝑬

𝑊 𝑁𝐶
2
1
2
❑
2
1
2
1
2
=( m 𝑣 + mg h ) − ( m 𝑣 +𝑚𝑔 h ) 𝑊
1
𝑁𝐶 =𝐸 − 𝐸 0
(
𝑊 𝑁𝐶 =( ∑ 𝒇 ¿ .𝒅=𝝁 𝒎𝒈.𝒅 ¿❑= m 𝑣❑2 − m𝑣 20 +(mg h−𝑚𝑔 h0 )
2
0 0
)
Hence , the net work done by non-conservative forces is equal to the change in the energy of the system.

If 𝐸=𝐸 0
( 12 m 𝑣 2
❑ +mg h =( ) 1
2
m 𝑣 20+ 𝑚𝑔 h 0)
Problem solving strategy
Problem statement

Non-conservative forces present?

YES NO

𝑊 𝑁𝐶 =𝐸 − 𝐸 0 𝐸=𝐸 0
𝑊 𝑁𝐶 = ( 12 m 𝑣 2
❑ )
+ mg h − (
1
2
m 𝑣 20 +𝑚𝑔 h0 )

( 1 1
( ∑ 𝒇 ¿ . 𝒅¿❑= m 𝑣❑2 − m 𝑣 20 +(mg h − 𝑚𝑔h0 )
2 2 )
Where Ʃ f represents sum of all non-conservative forces
present and d the distance covered during the application
of non-conservative forces
Substitute and calculate the unknowns
 Applications: Work-energy theorem

1. A ramp in an amusement park is frictionless. A

smooth object slides down the ramp and
comes down through a height h, What
distance d is necessary to stop the object on
the flat track if the coefficient of friction is μ.
Section QR has friction
Section PQ is frictionless (keyword)
Non-conservative forces present
(Non-conservative forces absent)
Hence
Hence
𝑊 𝑁𝐶 =𝐸 𝑅 − 𝐸 𝑄
𝐸𝑄 =𝐸 𝑃
((
1 2
21
𝝁 𝒎𝒈 . 𝑑=
1 2
2 )
( ∑ 𝒇 ¿ . 𝒅¿❑= m 𝑣 𝑅 +mg h 𝑅 −( m 𝑣𝑄 +𝑚𝑔h𝑄 )
)
m (0 )2❑ +mg h 𝑅 − ( 𝑚𝑔h + 𝑚𝑔 h𝑄 )
2
𝜇𝑚𝑔 . 𝑑=mg h 𝑅 − 𝑚𝑔h − 𝑚𝑔h𝑄 Note that =

𝜇𝑚𝑔 .𝑑=− 𝑚𝑔h

Hence the total potential energy at p was
𝒉
converted to kinetic energy at Q 𝒅=−
𝝁
 From A to C, the surface is frictionless, hence
No work done by non-conservative forces,
Energy is conserved
Similarly, or using the previous results,
the speed at C can be given by

√ 𝑣 +2g(h ¿ ¿ 𝐴− h )=𝑣
2
𝐴 𝐶 𝐶 ¿
¿ − ¿
¿ − ¿
From A to B, the surface is frictionless, hence
No work done by non-conservative forces, ¿ 1 47 𝐽
Energy is conserved
𝐸 𝐴=𝐸 𝐵
( 12 m 𝑣 + mg h )=( m 𝑣
2
𝐴 𝐴
1
2
2
𝐵 +mg h 𝐵 )

( 12 𝑣2
𝐴 + g h ) =(
𝐴
1
2
𝑣 2
𝐵 + g h𝐵 )

( 𝑣 2𝐴 +2 g h 𝐴 )=( 𝑣2𝐵 +2 g h 𝐵 )

√𝑣 2
𝐴 +2 g (h 𝐴 − h 𝐵)=𝑣 𝐵
Roller Coaster activity

Supposed a roller coaster starts from rest at point A and moves without friction as shown in the diagram.
(a)How fast is it moving at points B, C and D?
(b)What constant acceleration must be applied at D to have it stop at E?
Activity

A child of mass m is released from rest at the top of water slide, at a

height h = 9 m above the bottom of the slide as shown on the right.
Assuming that the slide is frictionless because of the water on it,
find the child’s speed at the bottom of the slide.
Motion in two dimensions
7. A shell is fired with a horizontal velocity in the positive x
direction from the top of an 80-m high cliff. The shell
strikes the ground 1330 m from the base of the cliff. The
drawing is not to scale.
Calculate the initial speed of the shell.

A) 4.0 m/s

B) 9.8 m/s

C) 82 m/s

D) 170 m/s

E) 330 m/s

The answer is E
 1 2 1 2
𝑚 𝑣 𝐴 +𝑚𝑔 h 𝐴 = 𝑚 𝑣 𝐵 + 𝑚𝑔 h 𝐵
2 2 ❑

We designate the flat portion of the track as having

a height and note from the drawing that its end is
at a height of above the ground. Solving for the
final speed at the end of the track gives

𝑣 𝐵= √ 𝑣 +2𝑔(h 𝐴 −h 𝐵)
2
𝐴
B

A
Keywords: Friction and air resistance are being ignored
𝑊 𝑁𝐶 =0 ?
Applying the conservation of mechanical energy
𝐸 𝐴=𝐸 𝐵
 C

At C
1 2 1 2
𝑚 𝑣 𝐶 +𝑚𝑔 h 𝐶 = 𝑚 𝑣 𝐵 +𝑚𝑔 h 𝐵
2 2 ❑

1 0 2 1 2
( 4.6 cos 48 ) +( 9.8)(0.40 𝑚+ 𝐻 )❑ = (4.6 ) +(9.8) (0.40)
2 2 ❑

𝑆𝑜𝑙𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝐻=0.60𝑚 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 
 A
For the height

=
B

C
∆ 𝑥 5.00 𝑚
𝑣 𝐵=𝑣 𝑂𝑋 = = =10𝑚 / 𝑠
∆ 𝑡 0.500 𝑠

Section AB Substituting values in (1) we get

Keywords: Friction and air resistance are being ignored
1
𝑊 𝑁𝐶 =0 ? 𝐻=
2 (9.8)
2
(10)❑ +1 .23= 6.33𝑚
❑

𝐸 𝐴=𝐸 𝐵
1 2 1 2
𝑚 𝑣 𝐴 +𝑚𝑔 h 𝐴 = 𝑚 𝑣 𝐵 + 𝑚𝑔 h 𝐵
2 2 ❑
.
If we let and
,
1 2 1 2
𝑚( 0)❑ +𝑚𝑔𝐻 = 𝑚 𝑣 𝐵 + 𝑚𝑔 h 𝐵
2 2 ❑
1 2
𝑔𝐻 = 𝑣 𝐵 +𝑔 h 𝐵
2 ❑ …..(1)
Tutorial

The diagram on shows A 0.41-kg block sliding from A to B along a frictionless surface.
When the block reaches B, it continues to move along a horizontal surface BC where
a kinetic frictional force acts. As a result, the block slows down, coming to rest at C.
The kinetic energy of the block at A is 37J and heights above the ground.
(a)What is the kinetic energy of the block when it reaches B?
(b)How much work does the kinetic frictional force do during the BC segment trip?