Work by Integration

1. Finding the work required to stretch a spring

2. Finding the work required to wind a wire around a drum
3. Finding the work required to pump liquid from a tank
4. Finding the work required to move two particles

Work is defined as the amount of energy required to perform a physical task. When force is
constant, work can simply be calculated using the equation

𝑊 =𝐹∙𝑑

where W is work, F is a constant force, and d is the distance through which the force acts. The
units of work are commonly Newton-meters, Nm; Joules, J; or foot-pound, ft-lb. Frequently, the
force is not constant and will change over time. In order to solve for work with a variable force,
the following integral equation must be used

𝑥=𝑏
𝑊=∫ 𝑓(𝑥)𝑑𝑥
𝑥=𝑎

where W is work, f(x) is force as a function of distance, and x is distance.

1. Finding the work required to stretch a spring

If an ideal spring is stretched or compressed x units beyond its natural length, then Hooke’s Law,
𝑓⃗(𝑥) = 𝑘𝑥⃗ tells us the force the spring is exerting to resist that action. The proportionality
constant k depends on the stiffness of the spring and is determined through empirical testing.

Example 1:

A spring has a natural length of 1 meter. A force of 25 Newtons stretches the spring by ¼ of a
meter. Determine how much work is done by stretching the spring.

a) 2 meters beyond its natural length

b) From a length of 1.5 meters to 2.5 meters

We first determine the spring constant, k. Because the force is 25 N when x is 0.25 m, we can use
Hooke’s law to determine k.

𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑘𝑥

1
25 𝑁 = 𝑘 ( 𝑚)
4
𝑁
∴ 𝑘 = 100 and 𝑓(𝑥) = 100𝑥
𝑚

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 Hence, to find the work done by stretching the spring from its rest position to 2 meters beyond
that resting position, we do the following:

𝑏 2
100 2 2
𝑊 = ∫ 𝑓(𝑥)𝑑𝑥 = ∫ 100𝑥𝑑𝑥 = 𝑥 | = 50(2)2 − 50(0)2 = 200 𝑁𝑚 or 200 𝐽
𝑎 0 2 0

Similarly, to find the work done by stretching the spring from a length of 1.5 m to 2.5 m:

𝑏 1.5 100
𝑊 = ∫𝑎 𝑓(𝑥)𝑑𝑥 = ∫0.5 100𝑥𝑑𝑥 = 𝑥 2 | 1.5
0.5
= 50(1.5)2 − 50(0.5)2 = 100 𝑁𝑚 or 100 𝐽
2

Note: In this type of problem, we need to pay attention to boundaries. If the spring is not
stretched, no matter what the length of it is, the lower boundary must be zero. If the spring is
stretched to a certain length, then we need to subtract the natural length of it from that value.
This then will determine the appropriate boundaries of the integral.

2. Finding the work required to wind a wire around a drum

When winding up a wire, a force has to be applied to pull the mass up against gravity. Therefore,
gravitational weight of the mass is equal to the required force to wind the wire. The potential
energy gained by the mass is the same as the work done by winding up the wire.

Example 2:

Find the work generated from one revolution of the pictured massless pulley and massless wire
system. The mass of the block is 3 kg.

For one rotational revolution of the pulley, the distance the weight is raised is
equal to one circumference; therefore, 2𝜋𝑟 = 2𝜋 ∙ 2 = 4𝜋. The gravitational
2m 𝑚
force on 3 kg is determined by 𝑚𝑔 = (3 𝑘𝑔) ∙ (9.8 𝑠2 ) = 29.4 𝑁. Therefore,

4𝜋 4𝜋
4𝜋
𝑊 = ∫ 3 ∙ 9.8 𝑑𝑥 = 29.4 ∫ 𝑑𝑥 = 29.4𝑥| = 29.4 ∙ 4𝜋 − 29.4 ∙ 0 = 369 𝐽
0 0 0
(rounded to 3 significant
digits)

3 kg

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Example 3:

We are given a fully extended cable of 150 feet weighing 2.00 lb/ft.
How much work is done after winding 50 feet of cable?

𝑙𝑏
𝐹 = 2 𝑓𝑡 (150 − 𝑥)𝑓𝑡 [Why (150 – x)? At the beginning there will be 150 feet of hanging cable.
As the cable is wound up (by x feet) the cable becomes shorter and shorter, weighing less and less.
We stop after x = 50 feet are wound, i.e., when there is only 100 feet of cable left hanging.]
1
150 ft
50 50
𝑊= ∫0 2(150 − 𝑥)𝑑𝑥 = ∫0 (300 − 2𝑥)𝑑𝑥 = [300𝑥 − 𝑥 2 ] 50
0
= 300 ∙ 50 − 502 =
4 x ft
1.25 x 10 𝑓𝑡 ∙ 𝑙𝑏

3. Finding work required to pump liquid from a tank

Pumping liquid out of the top of a tank requires work because the liquid is moving against
gravity. To calculate this, we imagine the work required to lift small disks of liquid up and out of
the tank. So we are lifting a series of masses against gravity and allowing the liquid to spill out
once the top is reached. We are asked to calculate the work performed in all of this activity,
𝑓𝑡 𝑚
noting that g is the gravitational constant, 32 𝑠2 or 9.8 𝑠2 . Sometimes the density is provided and
sometimes the mass and volume are, requiring density to be calculated from this data. What
varies in these systems is the distance each disc needs to be lifted, measured by taking the total
height, H, and subtracting from this the present height of the remaining liquid, x, and the volume
of each disc.

Example 4:

Find the work done by pumping out water from the top of a cylindrical tank 3.00 ft in radius and
𝑙𝑏
10 ft tall, if the tank is initially full. (The density of water is 62.4 𝑓𝑡 3 )

𝐹 = [𝐷𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦] ∙ [𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑣𝑖𝑡𝑦] ∙ [𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 𝑜𝑓 𝐷𝑖𝑠𝑐] ∙ [𝐻𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝐷𝑖𝑠𝑐]

= [𝜌] ∙ [𝑔] ∙ [𝜋𝑟 2 ] ∙ [𝑑𝑥]

Since Work = (Fdistance) and the distance is H – x, then H-x

10
𝑊 = ∫ (𝜌)(𝑔)(𝜋𝑟 2 )(𝐻 − 𝑥)𝑑𝑥
0 H
10
= ∫ (62.4)(32)(𝜋 ∙ 32 )(10 − 𝑥)𝑑𝑥
0 x
10
= 17971.2𝜋 ∫ (10 − 𝑥)𝑑𝑥
0
1 10
= 17971.2𝜋 [10𝑥 − 𝑥 2 ]
2 0
1
= 17971.2𝜋 [100 − (102 )] = 2.82 ∙ 106 𝑓𝑡 ∙ 𝑙𝑏
2

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Example 5:

Find the work done by pumping out molasses 3 (3,10)

from a conical tank filled to 2 ft from the top of
the tank. The tank has a maximum radius of 3 ft
and a height of 10 ft. Molasses have density r
𝑙𝑏
100 𝑓𝑡 3. (r,h)

The added difficulty here results from the fact

that as the height through which each disc is 10
lifted changes, so does the radius change. We h
would prefer to integrate with respect to a single
variable; therefore, we seek a relationship
between the variables h and r.
(0,0)
Using similar triangles:

ℎ 10
=
𝑟 3
3
𝑟= ℎ
10

𝐹 = [𝐷𝑒𝑠𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑦] ∙ [𝐺𝑟𝑎𝑣𝑖𝑡𝑦] ∙ [𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 𝑜𝑓 𝐷𝑖𝑠𝑐] ∙ [𝐻𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝐷𝑖𝑠𝑐] = [𝜌] ∙ [𝜋𝑟 2 ] ∙ [𝑑ℎ]

8 8 2
3
𝑊 = ∫ (𝜌)(𝑔)(𝜋𝑟 2 )(𝐻 − ℎ)𝑑ℎ = ∫ (100)(32) (𝜋 ( ℎ) ) (10 − ℎ)𝑑ℎ
0 0 10
8 8
10ℎ3 ℎ4 8
= 288𝜋 ∫ ℎ2 (10 − ℎ)𝑑ℎ = 288𝜋 ∫ (10ℎ2 − ℎ3 )𝑑ℎ = 288𝜋 [ − ]
0 0 3 4 0
3 4
10 ∙ 8 8
= 288𝜋 [ − ] = 6.176 x 105 𝑓𝑡 ∙ 𝑙𝑏
3 4

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You Try It:
Problem 1:

A spring has a natural length of 250 cm. A force of 18 Newtons stretches the spring to a length of
5 meters. Determine how much work is done by stretching the spring

c) 150 cm beyond its natural length

d) from a length of 3.5 meters to 5.0 meters

Problem 2:

Find the work done winding 10 feet of a 25-ft cable that weighs 4.00 lb/ft when there is a 50 lb
weight that hangs on the end.

Problem 3:

Find the work done by pumping out molasses from a hemispherical tank with a radius of 4 feet
𝑙𝑏
when the initial depth of the molasses is at 2 feet. Molasses has a density of 100 𝑓𝑡 3. (Hint: First
use the Pythagorean Theorem to show how the relationship between r and h is 𝑟 2 = 8ℎ − ℎ2 . )
4

“You Try It” Solutions:

Problem 1: (a) 8.1 Nm; (b) 18.9 Nm

Problem 2: 1300 𝑓𝑡 ∙ 𝑙𝑏

Problem 3: 174,253.6725 𝑜𝑟 1.74 x 105 𝑓𝑡 ∙ 𝑙𝑏

Sorting out the difference, in the US Customary system of measurement, between pound mass
and pounds force can be challenging. Here is a link to a handout found online from Durham
College’s Student Academic Learning Services: Pounds Mass vs Pound Force

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