Chapter 6

Work and Energy

Physics 201
General Science - Deanship of Support Studies Dept.

Lecturer: Amnah
6.1 Work Done by a Constant Force
The work W: is defined as the magnitude of the force (F)
times the magnitude of the displacement s:

𝑊 = 𝐹𝑠

the SI unit of work is joule (J). Where,

1 N  m  1 joule  J 
 6.1 Work Done by a Constant Force
For example:
Work is done when a force 𝐹Ԧ pushes a car through a displacement 𝑠Ԧ

Work is a scalar quantity

 The work done to push a car is the same whether the car is moved north to south or east to
west

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6.1 Work Done by a Constant Force

𝑊 = 𝐹𝑠

If the distance s is zero, the work is zero, even if a force is

applied.
s=0W=0

In physics, the idea of work is intimately tied up with the

idea of motion. If the object does not move, the force
acting on the object does no work
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6.1 Work Done by a Constant Force
When the force and displacement do not point in the same
direction. Then, the force is directed at an angle 𝜃 relative
to the displacement.
 only the component of the force along the displacement
is used in defining work. this component is F cos 𝜃

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6.1 Work Done by a Constant Force
The work magnitude when the force and displacement not in the
same direction:

W   F cos  s

W  is the work done on an object by a constant force F

F  is the magnitude of the force.
s  is the magnitude of the displacement.
𝜽  is the angle between the force and the displacement.

SI Unit of Work: newton · meter = joule (J)

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6.1 Work Done by a Constant Force

When the force points in the same direction as the displacement,

then 𝜃 = 0°, and Equation reduces to W = Fs

W   F cos0  s  Fs

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6.1 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  cos50.0   75.0 m 

 2170 JJ
2169.4
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6.1 Work Done by a Constant Force

Example:

The weight lifter in Interactive Figure (a) is bench-pressing a barbell whose weight is
710 N. In part b of the figure, he raises the barbell a distance of 0.65 m above his
chest, and in part c he lowers it the same distance. The weight is raised and lowered
at a constant velocity. Determine the work done on the barbell by the weight lifter
during (a) the lifting phase and (b) the lowering phase.

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6.1 Work Done by a Constant Force

461.5 J

- 461.5 J

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6.1 Work Done by a Constant Force
Example 3: Accelerating a Crate
The truck is accelerating at a rate of
1.50 m / s 2 . The mass of the
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?

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Reasoning:

The free-body diagram in Figure shows the forces

that act on the crate:
(1) the weight 𝑊 of the crate,
(2) the normal force 𝐹𝑁 exerted by the flatbed, and
(3) the static frictional force fs

The weight and the normal force are perpendicular

to the displacement, so they do no work. Only the
static frictional force does work, since it acts in the
x direction

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11700 J

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6.2 The Work-Energy Theorem and
Kinetic Energy
Definition of Kinetic Energy
The kinetic energy KE of an object with mass m and speed
v is given by
KE  mv 1
2
2

SI Unit of Kinetic Energy: joule (J)

*The SI unit of kinetic energy is the same as the unit for work. Also, kinetic energy, like
work, is a scalar quantity. because work and kinetic energy are closely related

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 6.2 The Work-Energy Theorem and
Kinetic Energy
The Work-Energy Theorem
When a net external force does work W on an object, the kinetic
energy of the object changes from its initial value of 𝐾𝐸𝑜 to a final
value of 𝐾𝐸𝑓 , the difference between the two values being equal to the
work:
W  KE f  KE 0  12 mvf2  12 mv02

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According to the work–energy theorem:
 a moving object has kinetic energy, because work was
done to accelerate the object from rest to a speed 𝑣𝑓 .
Conversely, an object with kinetic energy can perform
work, if it is allowed to push or pull on another object.

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6.2 The Work-Energy Theorem and
Kinetic Energy
Example 4 The Physics of an Ion Propulsion Drive
The mass of the space probe is 474-kg and its initial velocity
is 275 m/s. If the 56.0-mN force acts on the probe through a
displacement of 2.42  109 m, what is its final speed?

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Known and unknown:

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6.2 The Work-Energy Theorem and
Kinetic Energy

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6.2 The Work-Energy Theorem and
Kinetic Energy

804.63 m/s

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6.2 The Work-Energy Theorem and
Kinetic Energy
Conceptual Example 6: Work and Kinetic Energy
Figure below illustrates a satellite moving about the earth in a circular orbit and in
an elliptical orbit. The only external force that acts on the satellite is the
gravitational force. In which orbit does the kinetic energy of the satellite change,
(a) the circular orbit or (b) the elliptical orbit?

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Solution:
The gravitational force is the only force acting on the satellite, so it
is the net force. By applying the work–energy theorem, which
states that the work done by the net force equals the change in the
kinetic energy

(a) Answer (a) is incorrect.

Ԧ
For the circular orbit in Figure (a) the gravitational force 𝐹does no
work on the satellite since the force is perpendicular to the
instantaneous displacement 𝑠. Ԧ Thus, the work done by the net
force is zero.
W= 0
and according to the work–energy theorem, the kinetic energy of
the satellite remains the same everywhere on the orbit.

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Answer (b) is correct. For the elliptical orbit in Figure b,
the gravitational force does do work.

 as the satellite moves toward the earth in the top part

of Figure b, there is a component of F that points in the
same direction as the displacement. Consequently, F does
positive work during this part of the orbit, and the kinetic
energy of the satellite increases.

When the satellite moves away from the earth, as in the

lower part of Figure b, F has a component that points
opposite to the displacement and, therefore, does negative
work. As a result, the kinetic energy of the satellite
decreases.

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 6.3 Gravitational Potential Energy
Gravitational potential energy is an energy that is related to
gravitational force or to gravity.

In figure a basketball of mass m moving vertically downward.

W   F cos  s
 the only force acting on the ball is force of gravity F = mg
 The displacement of the ball s:
𝑠 = ℎ𝑜 − ℎ𝑓
Where, ℎ𝑜 is the initial height of the ball , and ℎ𝑓 the final
height, both distances measured from the earth’s surface.

As, F & s in the same direction. The cos 0 = 1

Wgravity  mg  h0  h f 
Thus,

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 6.3 Gravitational Potential Energy
Gravitational potential energy can be describe mathematically :

Wgravity  mg  h0  h f 

Where,
 ℎ𝑜 is the initial height, and ℎ𝑓 the final height.
m  mass
g  the acceleration due to gravity (g = 9.8 m/𝑠 2)

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6.3 Gravitational Potential Energy
Example 7: A Gymnast on a
Trampoline

The gymnast leaves the

trampoline at an initial height of
1.20 m and reaches a maximum
height of 4.80 m before falling
back down. What was the initial
speed of the gymnast?

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Solution:
We can find the initial speed of the gymnast (mass = m) by using the work–energy
theorem, provided the work done by the net external force can be determined. Since only

W  12 mvf2  12 mv02
the gravitational force acts on the gymnast in the air, it is the net force, and we can
evaluate the work by using the relation

Wgravity  mg  h0  hf 

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6.3 Gravitational Potential Energy

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 6.3 Gravitational Potential Energy

Wgravity  mg  h0  h f 
Wgravity  mgh0  mghf

Definition of Gravitational Potential Energy

The gravitational potential energy (PE) is the energy that an object of mass (m) has by
virtue of its position relative to the surface of the earth. That position is measured by the
height (h) of the object relative to an arbitrary zero level:

PE  mgh
1 N  m  1 joule  J 
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6.4 Conservative Versus Nonconservative
Forces
In nature there are two general types of forces: Conservative and
Nonconservative Forces
Conservative Forces
Gravitational force (Ch. 4)
Elastic spring force (Ch. 10)
Electric force (Ch. 18, 19)
Nonconservative Forces
Static and kinetic frictional forces
Air resistance
Tension
Normal force
Propulsion force of a rocket
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6.4 Conservative Versus Non-
conservative 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.

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6.4 Conservative Forces
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.

For example: in the figure the work done by

gravity depends only on the initial and final
heights, and not on the path between these
heights.
 For this reason, the gravitational force is
called a conservative force, according to
version 1

Wgravity  mg  h0  hf 

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6.4 Conservative Forces

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.
Wgravity  mg  h0  hf  h0  hf

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6.4 Nonconservative Forces
Not all forces are conservative.

A force is nonconservative if the work it does on an

object moving between two points depends on the path of
the motion between the points.

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6.4 Nonconservative Forces

An example of a nonconservative force is the kinetic

frictional force.
W   F cos  s  f k cos180 s   f k s

The work done by the kinetic frictional force is always

negative. Thus, it is impossible for the work it does on an
object that moves around a closed path to be zero.
𝑊 ≠0

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6.7 Power
Definition of Average Power
Average power is the rate at which work is done, and it is
obtained by dividing the work by the time required to
perform the work.

Work W
P 
Time t

SI Unit of Power: joule s  watt (W)

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Example:
A power of an engine's car is 1.5 x 105 W. If the trip made
by the car toke 2 hours. Find the work done by the car in
joules.

Solution:
𝑊 = 𝑃. 𝑡 = 7200 𝑠 × 1.5 x 105 W = 10.8 x 105 𝐽

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 Homework

Find a kinetic energy of 6.2 kg object moving with 3.5

m/s.

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