CHAPTER 3

KINETICS OF A PARTICLE:
WORK AND ENERGY

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CHAPTER OUTLINE

The Work of a Force

Principle of Work and Energy
Principle of Work and Energy for a System of
Particles
Power and Efficiency
Conservative Forces and Potential Energy
Conservation of Energy

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INTRODUCTION
Previously, problems dealing with the motion of particles
were

solved through the fundamental equation of motion, F ma.
Current chapter introduces two additional methods of analysis.

Method of work and energy: directly relates force, mass,

velocity and displacement.

Method of impulse and momentum: directly relates force,

mass, velocity, and time.

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WORK OF A FORCE

Differential vector dr is the particle displacement.

Work of the force is

dU F dr
F ds cos
Fx dx Fy dy Fz dz

Work is a scalar quantity, i.e., it has magnitude and

sign but not direction.

Dimensions of work are length force. Units are

1 J joule 1 N 1 m 1ft lb 1.356 J

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WORK OF A FORCE
Work of a force during a finite displacement,
A2

U12 F dr
A1
s2 s2
F cos ds Ft ds
s1 s1
A2
Fx dx Fy dy Fz dz
A1

Work is represented by the area under the

curve of Ft plotted against s.

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WORK OF A FORCE
Work of a constant force in rectilinear motion,
U12 F cos x

Work of the force of gravity,

dU Fx dx Fy dy Fz dz
W dy
y2
U12 W dy
y1
W y 2 y1 W y

Work of the weight is equal to product of

weight W and vertical displacement y.

Work of the weight is positive when y < 0,

i.e., when the weight moves down. 13 -
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 Magnitude of the force exerted by a spring is
proportional to deflection,
F kx
k spring constant N/m or lb/in.
Work of the force exerted by spring,
dU F dx kx dx
x2
U12 kx dx 12 kx12 12 kx22
x1

Work of the force exerted by spring is positive

when x2 < x1, i.e., when the spring is returning to
its undeformed position.

Work of the force exerted by the spring is equal to

negative of area under curve of F plotted against x,
U12 12 F1 F2 x 13 -
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 CONSERVATIVE FORCES

A force F acting on a particle is said to be conservative if its work is

independent of the path followed by the particle A as it moves from A1 to13A-2.
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 SAMPLE PROBLEM 13.1
SOLUTION:
Evaluate the change in kinetic energy.
Determine the distance required for the
work to equal the kinetic energy change.

An automobile weighing 2000 kg is

driven down a 5o incline at a speed of
90 km/h when the brakes are applied
causing a constant total breaking force
of 7 kN.
Determine the distance traveled by the
automobile as it comes to a stop.
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SAMPLE PROBLEM 13.1
v1=90 km/h SOLUTION:
Evaluate the change in kinetic energy.

v1 90 km/h 25 m/s
T1 12 mv12 1
2
2000252 625 kJ
v2 0 T2 0
19.62 kN Determine the distance required for the work to
equal the kinetic energy change.
U12 7 x 19.62 sin 5x
5.29x
7 kN
T1 U12 T2
625 5.29x 0
x 11813m-
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POTENTIAL ENERGY

Work of the force of gravity W,
U12 W y1 W y2

Work is independent of path followed; depends

only on the initial and final values of Wy.
V g Wy
potential energy of the body with respect
to force of gravity.

U12 Vg Vg
1 2

Choice of datum from which the elevation y is

measured is arbitrary.

Units of work and potential energy are the same:

Vg Wy N m J 13 -
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POTENTIAL ENERGY
Work of the force exerted by a spring depends
only on the initial and final deflections of the
spring,
U12 12 kx12 12 kx22

The potential energy of the body with respect

to the elastic force,
Ve 12 kx 2
U12 Ve 1 Ve 2

Note that the preceding expression for Ve is

valid only if the deflection of the spring is
measured from its undeformed position.

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 CONSERVATION OF ENERGY
Work of a conservative force, In the absence of non-conservative
U12 V1 V2 force
Concept of work and energy,
T1 V1 T2 V2
U12 T2 T1
Follows that
T1 V1 U12 noncons. T2 V2

Friction forces are not conservative. Total

mechanical energy of a system involving friction
decreases.

Mechanical energy is dissipated by friction into

thermal energy. Total energy is constant. 13 -
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EXAMPLE

h is zero

T1 0 V1 W
T1 V1 W

1W
T2 1 mv 2
2 2 2 g W V2 0
2g
T2 V2 W
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 SAMPLE PROBLEM 13.6
200 mm SOLUTION:
Apply the principle of conservation of
energy between positions 1 and 2.
150 mm
The elastic and gravitational potential
energies at 1 and 2 are evaluated from
the given information. The initial kinetic
energy is zero.
A 10 kg collar slides without friction Solve for the kinetic energy and velocity
along a vertical rod as shown. The at 2.
spring attached to the collar has an
undeflected length of 100 mm and a
constant of 500 N/m.
If the collar is released from rest at
position 1, determine its velocity after
it has moved 150 mm to position 2. 13 -
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SAMPLE PROBLEM 13.6 (DATUM AT POSITION
1)
SOLUTION:
200 mm Apply the principle of conservation of energy between
positions 1 and 2.
W
150 mm
Position 1: Ve 12 kx12 1
2
5000.2 0.12 2.5 J
250 mm Vg 0 ( Datum)
V1 Ve Vg 2.5 0 2.5 J
W
T1 0
Position 2: Ve 12 kx22 5000.25 - 0.12 5.6 J
1
2
Vg Wy 98.1 0.15 14.7 J
V2 Ve Vg 5.6 14.7 9.1 J
1
T2 12 mv22 (10)v22 5v22
2
Conservation of Energy:
T1 V1 T2 V2
0 2.5 5v22 9.1 v2 1.5 m/s13 -
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SAMPLE PROBLEM 13.6 (DATUM AT POSITION
2)
Position 1: Ve 12 kx1 12 500 0.2 0.1 2.5 J
200 mm 2 2

Vg (98.1)(0.15) 14.7 J
W
150 mm V1 Ve Vg 2.5 14.7 17.2 J
250 mm
T1 0
Datum
W
Position 2:
Ve 12 kx22 1
2
5000.25 - 0.12 5.6 J
Vg 0 ( Datum)
V2 Ve Vg 5.6 0 5.6 J
1
T2 12 mv22 (10)v22 5v22
2
Conservation of Energy:
T1 V1 T2 V2
0 17.2 5v22 5.6 v2 1.5 m/s13 -
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