GRADE 8 - WORK AND ENERGY

SUMMARY:
1. Work is done on a body when force is applied causing that body to move.
2. Work is defined as the product of the magnitude of the force and the distance through which the object moves.
In equation,
W = F x d, or
W = F cos Ө d.
The SI unit of work is Nm or joule.
3. Energy is the ability to do work. Doing work on a body increases its energy.
4. Kinetic energy is energy due to motion. To calculate the increase in kinetic energy of a body, we use the
equation
KE = ½ mv2
5. Potential energy is energy due to position. To determine the gravitational energy we use the equation
PE = mgd.
The SI unit of energy is the same as the unit of work which is joule.
6. The kinetic energy of a free falling body increases while its potential energy decreases.
7. The total mechanical energy of a free falling body remains the same or is conserved. The loss in potential
energy equals the increase in kinetic energy.
8. Some sources of energy are heat from under the earth, energy released by atomic nucleus and fossil fuels.
9. Machines help us do work by multiplying force, changing the direction of force, transferring energy,
transforming energy, and increasing speed.
10. Mechanical advantage is the number of times a machine multiplies force. Actual mechanical advantage is the
ratio of the resistance to the effort while ideal mechanical advantage is the ratio of the effort distance to
resistance distance.
11. Power is the rate of doing work. In SI it is expressed in watts.

I. Complete each of the following sentences with a word or phrase that will make the sentence correct.
1. ____________ is the ability to do work.
2. The energy stored in a stretched spring is called ____________.
3. The total mechanical energy of a body is the sum of its potential energy and ____________ energy.
4. In the presence of _____________, the final mechanical energy is less than the initial mechanical energy.
5. When a basketball and a pingpong ball are thrown with the same velocity, the kinetic energy of the basketball is
____________ the kinetic energy of the pingpong ball.
6. The mechanical energy of a free-falling body is ____________.
7. Efficiency of a machine is the ratio of its actual mechanical advantage to its ____________.
8. ____________ is the amount of work done per unit time.
9. ____________ is the rate of doing work.
10. A ¾ -hp motor has a power equal to ____________ watts.

II. Choose the letter of the best answer and write this on a piece of paper.
1. In science, which statement correctly describes work?
a. Work is done whenever force is applied.
b. Work is done when you are paid for the effort exerted.
c. Work is done when force applied moves the object through a distance.
d. Work is done when force is applied for a longer time.
2. In which situations shown in the figures below is work done equal to zero?

a) b) c) d)
3. A force of 25 N is used to slide a 150-N sofa, 5 m across a floor. How much work is done on the sofa?
a. 0 joule b. 125 joules c. 245 joules d. 750 joules
4. How much work is done in holding a 2-kg book 2 m above the ground?
a. 0 joule b. 4 joules c. 19.6 joules d. 39.2 joules
5. An object lifted to a height of 5 meters gained 1000 J of potential energy. Then, it is allowed to freely fall. What
is its kinetic energy when it hits the ground?
a. zero J b. 1000 J c. 5000 J d. 50000 J
6. A 1-kg ball rolling with a speed of 2 m/s has a kinetic energy equal to
a. 1 J c. 4 J
b. 2 J d. 8 J
7. If air resistance is zero, the kinetic energy of a falling object at the lowest position is ________ its potential
energy at the highest position.
a. less than b. equal to c. greater than d. not related to
8. Which description of the following machines is INCORRECT?
a. wheelbarrow – 1st class lever
b. seesaw – 1st class lever
c. ice tong – 3rd class lever
d. human arm – 1st class lever
9. How does the pulley in the flagpole help us do work? It
a. increases the force applied.
b. makes work faster.
c. changes the direction of force.
d. transforms energy.
10. The rate at which work is done is called
a. power.
b. displacement.
c. kinetic energy.
d. potential energy.