Work and Energy

The Ninja, a roller coaster at Six Flags

over Georgia, has a height of 122 ft and
a speed of 52 mi/h. The potential energy
due to its height changes into kinetic
energy of motion.

Goals:
Define kinetic energy and potential
energy, along with the appropriate
units in each system.
Describe the relationship between
work and kinetic energy, and apply the
WORK-ENERGY THEOREM.

Energy

Energy is anything that can be converted into work; i.e., anything that
can exert a force through a
distance.
distance

Energy is the capability for doing

work.

Potential Energy
Potential Energy: Stored energy.

A suspended weight

A stretched bow

Example Problem: What is the

potential energy of a 50-kg person
in a skyscraper if he is 480 m above
the street below?

Gravitational Potential
Energy

What is the P.E. of a 50-kg

person at a height of 480 m?

U = mgh = (50 kg)(9.8 m/s2)(480

m)

U
U=
= 235
235 kJ
kJ

Kinetic Energy
Kinetic Energy: Energy of motion.
If an object is moving, it has kinetic
energy. (Mass with velocity)
A speeding car
or a space
rocket

Examples of Kinetic
Energy
What is the kinetic energy of a 5-g
bullet traveling at 200 m/s?

K mv (0.005 kg)(200 m/s)

5g

1
2

1
2

200
m/s

KK =
= 100
100 JJ
What is the kinetic energy of a
1000-kg car traveling at 14.1 m/s?

K mv (1000 kg)(14.1 m/s)

1
2

1
2

KK =
= 99.4
99.4 kJ
kJ

W
orkFx(m
a)x;
Work and Kinetic Energy

A resultant force changes the velocity

of an object and does work on that
object.
vf
x
vo
F
F
m
m

Work mv mv
1
2

2
f

1
2

v v

2
0

2
f

2
0

2x

The Work-Energy Theorem

Work is
2
2
1
1
equal to the
Work 2 mv f 2 mv0
change in
mv2
If we define kinetic energy as mv2
then we can state a very important
physical principle:
The Work-Energy Theorem: The work
done by a resultant force is equal to
the change in kinetic energy that it
produces.

Example 1: A 20-g projectile strikes a

mud bank, going a distance of 6 cm
before stopping. Find the stopping
80
6 cm
force F if the initial
velocity is
80 m/s.
0
2
m/s
Work = mv - mv
x
Work = mvf - mvi
2

F=?
F x= - mvi2
F (0.06 m) cos 1800 = - (0.02 kg)(80

m/s)2

F (0.06 m)(-1) = -64 J

FF =
= 1067
1067 N
N

Work to stop bullet = change in K.E. for

bullet

Example 2: A bus slams on brakes to

avoid an accident. The tread marks of
the tires are 25 m long. If = 0.7,
Work = KE
what=was
the)speed before applying
Work
F(cos
25
brakes?
x
m Ff
Ff = .FN = mg
0
Work = - mg
KE = mvf2 - mvi2
x

- mv
KEi 2== - mg x
Work

vi =

vi = 2(0.7)(9.8 m/s )(25 m)

2

2gx
vvi i =
= 18.5
18.5
m/s
m/s

Power
Power is defined as the rate at
which
work is done: (P = W/t )
Work
FFgg
rr
Work
Power

Power
time
tt
time

Power
Power of
of 11 W
W is
is work
work done
done at
at rate
rate of
of 11
J/s
J/s

Example of Power
What power is consumed in
lifting a 70-kg robber 1.6 m in
0.50
Fh s?
mgh

t
2

(70 kg)(9.8 m/s )(1.6 m)

P
0.50 s
Power
Power Consumed:
Consumed: PP =
= 2220
2220
W
W

Example 3: A 100-kg cheetah moves

from rest to 30 m/s in 4 s. What is the
power?
Recognize that work is equal
to the change in kinetic
energy:
Work
2
2

Work 12 mv f 12 mv0
P

1
2

mv 2f
t

m = 100 kg

(100 kg)(30 m/s) 2

4s
1
2

Power
Power Consumed:
Consumed: PP =
= 1.22
1.22
kW
kW