WORK, ENERGY AND POWER

INTRODUCTION:
The concepts of work, energy and power are three important
concepts in the field of physics.
By definition, Energy is the capacity to get work done. This means
that its influence is when an object exerts a force on an object to
displace and change its position. While work is the action that takes
place when displacing an object by applying a certain degree of force
on it. By doing this, one would expect a change in position. Power is
the rate at which work gets carried out in the amount of work that gets
done per time.
Drawing from these definitions, it is safe to say that Energy is a core
need for performing work. Power is the amount of work that gets
done in a given period. Work on the other hand is the action required
to effect a change in the position of the object. You need the energy to
do work and power is the rate of doing work while energy is the
potential to do work.
As we go along in the lesson you will explore how works, energy and
power are associated with one another.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
After completion of the lesson on Energy, Work and Power, the
students should be able to
1. Become aware of the close association of work, energy and
power.
2. Solve problems on work, energy and power.
COURSE MATERIALS:
WORK
 It can be done when a force produces a motion.
 Work is done by a force depends upon two factors
1. Magnitude of the force
2. Distance through which the body moves in the direction of
force.
 Work is the application of a force over a distance
We do work when we lift a load against Earth’s gravity or move
through a distance. The heavier the load or the farther we
move, the more work we do.
Lifting a weight from the ground and putting it on a shelf is also
an example of work.
Therefore W= Force x Distance moved in the direction of force
Work = F X D
The SI unit of work is Newton. Meters (N.m)
The unit is given the special name joule (J)
1 N.m = 1 J
Example 1. What is the work done when a gurney with a
patient is pushed at a distance of 5 meters at a force of 31.5 N?
Given F= 31.5 N d = 5 meters W=?
W= Fd W = (31.5 N) (5m)
W = 157.5 N.m or 157 J
 If a body gets displaced by distance (D) when a force F acts on it or if
the force acts at an angle Ø parallel to the line of motion. Parallel is
horizontal.
W = (FcosØ)d
where Ø = angle between force and distance but it the Force is
perpendicular component
W = F sin Ø, does no work since there is no displacement.
Example:
An object is horizontally dragged across the surface by 100 N
force acting parallel to the surface. Find out the amount of work done
by the force in moving the object through a distance of 8 m
Given: F= 100 N d= 8 m
W= F cosØ d
= 100 x 8 x cosØ
= 800 J (since Cos = 1)

ENERGY
 Energy is the ability to perform work.
 Energy can neither be created nor destroyed. It can only be
transformed from kind to another.
 All forms of energy are either kinetic or potential.
 The unit of energy is joules.
POTENTIAL ENERGY
It is the stored energy of an object. Example, the spring has energy
when it is compressed, the water held back by a dam has energy
because of its elevated position, batteries are also a form of potential
energy the most common type of potential energy is gravitational
potential energy.
Gravitational Potential Energy (PE)
It is energy that an object of mass (m) by virtue of its position relative
to the surface of the earth. The greater the height h. the greater is the
gravitational potential energy.
PE = mgh SI unit= 1 joule
m = mass, g= gravity, h= height
Note: always keep in mind that the weight of an object is equal to the
net force (F=W=mg) when the direction of motion is upward or
downward. So, when work is done against the force of gravity.
W=Fd = mgd thus W = average PE

KINETIC ENERGY
It is energy possessed when the body is in motion. Example, when
student walks out of the classroom after picking up his bag after class,
the energy he possessed is kinetic energy.
KE = ½ mv2
Where m = mass v = velocity
Example:
How much is the energy needed when starting from rest, a 50kg gurney
with a patient is pushed at a distance of 5 meters at an acceleration of
0.35 m/s2. Assumed is negligible.
Given:
V22 = V12+ 2 as
V22 = 0 + 2 (0.35m/s2) (5m)
V2 = 1.87 m/s
M= 50kg
KE= ½ mv2 KE =?
KE = ½ (50kg) (1.87 m/s)
KE = 87.5 N.m or 87.5 J
THE CONSERVATION OF ENERGY
The law of conservation energy means that energy can never be
created or destroyed. It can be converted from to another, but the
total amount of energy never changed.
CONSERVATION OF TOTAL MECHANICAL ENERGY
It is the sum of the kinetic energy and potential energy is called the
total mechanical energy.
E = KE + PE
 For a conservative system (none is lost or gained), the total
mechanical energy is constant, that is.
E = E0
Final energy = initial energy
This equation can be written as
(KE - KE) + (PE - PE ) = 0 0r Ave KE = Ave PE = 0
Other Forms of energy includes:
POWER
It is the work done per unit time.
Average power is the average rate at which work is done and is
obtained by dividing W by the time by the time t required to perform
the work.
Average power = work/ time = w/t =Fd/t
The SI unit of Power is watt (W) or joules/s.
Sample Problem:
What is the potential energy of an object which requires 50J of work to
raise it to a certain height. How much power is required if the work
done is 2.0 s?
Given: W= 50J t = 2.0 s Find PE and average Power
Solution: what work is done against the force of gravity?
W= Fd =mgd since PE =mgh (suitd=h)
Thus W= PE
PE - 50 J
Power = work/time
= 50J/2.0 s
= 25Js
= 25 Watt

Activity 1
1. How much work is done on a 100 N boulder when you lift it in 1
meter?
2. Find the work done by a 45.0 N force in pulling the suitcase at an
angle of 50 .00 for a distance of 75.0m.
3. A 0.50-kilogram ball is thrown vertically upward with an initial
velocity of 10m/s
a. What is the change in the ball’s potential energy between the
starting point and its maximum height?
b. What is the change in the ball’s potential energy between its
starting point and the maximum height?
a. To find the change in KE
Use this equation change of KE= KE – KE0= ½ mv2- ½ mv02
b. To find the change in PE
Change of PE = PE = mgh
4. A car starting from rest, accelerates in the + x direction. It has a
mass of 1.00 x 103kg and maintains an acceleration of 4.60 m/s2for
5.00 s. Determine the average power generated by this force.