A

UNIT 6

Energy, Work & Power

B

¾ show understanding that kinetic energy, elastic potential energy,

gravitational potential energy, chemical potential energy and
thermal energy are examples of different forms of energy
¾ state the principle of the conservation of energy
¾ apply the principle of the conservation of energy to new situations or to
solve related problems
¾ state that kinetic energy Ek = ½ mv2 and gravitational potential energy
Ep = mgh (for potential energy changes near the Earth’s surface)
¾ apply the relationships for kinetic energy and potential energy to new
situations or to solve related problems
¾ recall and apply the relationship work done = force x distance moved in the
direction of the force to new situations or to solve related problems
¾recall and apply the relationship power = work done / time taken to new
situations or to solve related problems
 Who is doing
work ?

Work is done only when a force produces motion in

the direction of the force.

Wall does not moved. ∴ Man is not doing work!!!

F No Motion

Motion

Motion is not in the direction of the force. ∴ Man is not doing work in
carrying the parcel!!!
 Work is the product of the force on a body and the
distance moved in the direction of the force.
SI unit for work is joule.
Work = Force x Distance moved in the
direction of the force

W = F x d
(J) (N) (m)

Definition of One Joule:

One joule of work is done when a force of one newton
moves an object through a distance of one meter in
the direction of the force.
Moment of a force:
M = Force x Perpendicular distance
from pivot

Units: Nm = N m

Work
W = Force x distance along direction
of force

Units: J = N m

‡ Moment of force
 Eg. 1
An object of weight 5N is pulled a distance of 40 m by a
force of 20N and the object moves in the same
direction as the force. Calculate the work done by the
force.
40m

20N

5N
Solution:
Work Done = F x distance moved in the direction of the applied force
= 20 N x 40m
= 800 Nm
= 800 J
More examples…

FORCE Distance Work Done

Moved in the
direction of the
force
1000N 2m

400N 1200J

50cm 4000J
Eg. 2
A box of mass 1kg is pulled 50cm along a level floor by a
horizontal force 5N. The box is then raised vertically
onto a table 80cm high. What is the total work done on
the box? (Take g = 10N/kg)

0.8m
0.5m

5N 5N

10N 10N
 0.5m

5N 5N

Solution: 10N 10N

Work Done by horizontal force = ( 5N ) x (0.50m)
= 2.5 J
Weight of box = 1kg x 10 N/kg
= 10 N

Minimum force required to raise box vertically = 10 N

Solution:
Work Done by vertical force
0.8m
= 10 N x 0.80 m
5N
= 8 J
10N
Total work done = 2.5 J + 8 J
= 10.5 J
a. Gravitational potential energy (GPE) is the energy a body
possesses due to its position relative to the centre of
the earth.
b. The higher the object, the greater its GPE.

Gravitational Potential Energy = mgh (Joule)

where: m = mass (kg)
h = height of object above reference level (m)
g = gravitational acceleration =10 m/s2
Eg. 1
A mass of 40 kg was lifted through a vertical distance of
6 metres in a time of 5 seconds. (Take g = 10N/kg)
Calculate
a. the weight lifted.
b. the potential energy gained by the mass
Solution:
a. Weight lifted = mg
= 40 kg x 10 N/kg
6m = 400 N
b. Gained in GPE = mgh
= 40 kg x 10 N/kg x 6 m
= 2400 Nm
= 2400 J
Reference level
Eg. 2
What is the gravitational potential energy of a 400g apple
3 m above the ground? (Take g = 10ms-2)

Solution:
GPE of apple = mgh
= 0.400 kg x 10 N/kg x 3 m
3m
= 12 Nm
= 12 J
Eg. 3
A man uses a pulley to move a box along a slope. The box weighs 400N and
moves a distance of 2 m along the slope when the man pulls on the taut
rope with a force of 220N.
a. What is the work done by the man?
b. What is the gain in GPE?
c. Explain why the work done by the man is larger than the gain in GPE?

220N

2m

1m
 220N

2m

1m

Solution:
a. Distance moved by the box along the slope when
the man pulls on the rope = 2m

Work Done by the man = F x d

= 220 N x 2 m
= 440 J
b. State the vertical height moved by the box = 1m
 Gain in GPE = mgh
= 400 N x 1 m
= 400 J

c. Explain why the work done by the man is larger than

the gain in GPE?

Energy is used to overcome friction between the

block and the slope.
1. Kinetic energy (KE) is the energy a body posses due to
its movement.
2. Any object which is moving has kinetic energy.
3. Motion may be translational or rotational.
4. The faster the object moves, the greater its KE.
Translational Kinetic Energy = ½mv2 (Joules)

where: m= mass (kg)

v= velocity or speed of object (m/s)
 Eg. 1
A small car of mass 1000 kg travelling at 10 m/s. Calculate
the
a. kinetic energy of the car.
b. The car is brought to rest by applying brakes. What
was the final kinetic energy of the car?
c. Energy is always conserved. Explain why the initial
kinetic energy of the car was not equal to the final
kinetic energy.

10 m/s 0 m/s
 10 m/s 0 m/s

Solution:
a. Initial kinetic energy of the car = ½mv2
= ½ x 1000 x (10)2
= 50 000J
b. Final kinetic energy of the car = ½mv2
= ½ x 1000 x (0)2
= 0J
c. All the kinetic energy has been converted to heat energy
(to overcome friction / air resistance)
 Eg. 2
A bullet of mass 40g leaves a gun with kinetic energy of
20kJ. Calculate the speed of the bullet.
40g = 0.04kg

Solution:
K.E. = ½ m v2
20 000 = 0.5 x 0.04 x v2
Try on your own Q5.
20 000 = v2
Answer: m = 40kg
0.5 x 0.04

v2 = 1000, 000

v = 1000 m/s
 Eg. 3
The speed-time graph of a car is shown below. The car
has a mass of 1200kg.
v/kmh-1

a. State the KE of the car at t=0h. A B

K.E. = 0J 36

b. Find the speed of the car at A in ms-1.

Speed of car at A = 36km / h 0
36000 0 t/h
= 60 x 60
= 10 m/s
c. Calculate the KE of the car at A.
d. State the KE of the car at B.
KE = 60 000J K.E. =60 kJ
The law of conservation of energy states that
energy
cannot be created or destroyed but it can be
transformed from one form to another.
Eg. 1
Fig shows an object of mass 1 kg thrown vertically
upwards from the ground with an initial velocity of
4 ms-1. It reaches a maximum height of 0.8m
before falling back to the ground.
a. Find its initial KE.

Initial K.E.= ½ m v2
= ½ x 1 x (4)2
0.8m = 8J

1 kg
 b. Fill in the missing information in the table below.

Height KE PE Total Remarks

Energy
0.80m Maximum P.E.
0J 8J 8J
Minimum K.E.

0.60m 2J 8J P.E. > K.E.

0.8m 6J
0.40m P.E. = K.E.
4J 4J 8J
0.20m 2J P.E. < K.E.
1 kg 6J 8J
0.00m 8J 0J Minimum P.E.
8J
Maximum K.E.
Eg. 2 Indicate the type(s) of energy (max/min) at positions
A, B, C, D and E. [Refer to textbook Page 106]

A E
Reference
B D level
C

In the real world, we know that oscillating pendulum will

eventually come to a halt. Why?
 E.g. 3
A 4.0 Kg mass of metal has fallen through a
distance 0.8m onto a horizontal surface in order
to test its hardness.

a) When the mass has fallen through 0.8m, how

much GPE has been transformed? (g = 10N/kg)
Solution:
GPE = mgh
= 4 kg x 10 N/kg x 0.8 m
= 32 Nm
= 32 J
 b) Just before the mass hits the horizontal
surface, how much KE does the mass possess?

Solution:

Applying the Law of Conservation of energy,

Gain in KE = Loss in GPE
= 32 J
 c) What is the velocity of the body just before
hitting the horizontal surface?
Solution:
KE = ½ m v 2

32 = ½ (4.0) v2
v2 = 16
v = 4 m/s
 d) Assuming that 90% of the energy becomes heat
energy, how much heat energy is produced when
the body hits the horizontal surface?
Solution:
Heat energy produced = 0.9 x 32
= 28.8 J
 E.g. A frictionless metal track is curved in a shaped as shown
in the diagram. A ball is released from rest at A and
slides down the slope. At which pt(s)
a. is the KE greatest?
b. Same as B?
Is it possible for the ball to roll beyond F? Why?

A F

1m E 1m
B

D
C
We can all complete a
cross-country run. But
some take 10mins
while others take 10
hours.
Power is defined as the rate of doing work or the rate
of change of energy from one form to another.

Work done Energy change

Power = =
Time taken Time taken

p = W SI unit is W or Js-1
t

where P is power (Watts, W)

W is work done (Joules, J)
t is time taken (sec, s)
 E.g. 1 Fill in the blanks

Force Distance Power

moved in the
Time Work Done
direction of taken
force
3N 2m 4s 6J 1.5W
50N 12m 10s 600J 60W
600N 5m 12s 3000J 250W
 E.g. 2
A bricklayer lifts 50 bricks, each weighing 15N,
through a vertical height of 1.2m in one minute
and places them at rest on a wall. Calculate

a) the work done,

Solution:
Work Done = F x d
= 50 x 15 N x 1.2m
= 900 Nm
= 900 J
 A bricklayer lifts 50 bricks, each weighing 15N,
through a vertical height of 1.2m in one minute
and places them at rest on a wall. Calculate

b) the average power needed,

Solution: Power = Work Done Power = Work Done

Time taken Time taken
900 J 900 J
= =
1 min 60 s
= 900 W = 15 W
 E.g. 3
A staircase in a building has 75 steps, each one 15cm. A
student of weight 500N runs up the staircase in 30s.
What is the student’s average power while climbing the
stairs?
Solution:
Height of 1 step = 15cm
= 0.15 m
Height of 75 steps, h = 75 x 0.15 = 11.25m

Work Done in running up 75 steps = F x d

= 500N x 11.25m
= 5 625 J
Average Power = Work Done
Time taken
5625 J
=
30 s
= 187.5 W