COLLEGE

PHYSICS

CHAPTER 8: WORK
AND ENERGY
WORK

The work W done on an object by a

constant force F during a linear
displacement is given by
=
where F is the magnitude of the force,
x is the magnitude of the
displacement, and F and point in
the same direction.
 A constant force
In the same
direction as the
displacement, ,
does work .

A constant force
exerted at an angle
u with respect to the
displacement, ,
does work ( cos).
Atlas holds up the Earth

But he doesnt move,

dist = 0

Work= Fx dist = 0

He doesnt do any work!

Garcon does work when
he picks up the tray

but not while he

carries it around
the room

dist is not zero,

but dist is 0
 No work is done on a
bucket when it is moved
horizontally because the
applied force is
perpendicular to the
displacement.

The student does positive work

when he lifts the box, because
the applied force is in the same
direction as the displacement.
When he lowers the box to the
floor, he does negative work.
Example No 1.

An Eskimo returning from a successful fishing trip pulls

a sled loaded with salmon. The total mass of the sled
and salmon is 50.0 kg, and the Eskimo exerts a force
of 1.20 x 102 N on the sled by pulling on the rope.
(a) How much work does he do on the sled if the rope
is horizontal to the ground (=0) and he pulls the sled
5.00 m?
(b) How much work does he do on the sled if =30.0
and he pulls the sled the same distance? (Treat the
sled as a point particle, so details such as the point of
attachment of the rope make no difference.)
Example No 2.

Suppose that in Example 1 the coefficient of

kinetic friction between the loaded 50.0-kg sled
and snow is 0.200.
(a) The Eskimo again pulls the sled 5.00 m, exerting
a force of 1.20 x 102 N at an angle of 0. Find the
work done on the sled by friction, and the net
work.
(b) Repeat the calculation if the applied force is
exerted at an angle of 30.0 with the horizontal.
 KINETIC ENERGY AND
THE WORKENERGY THEOREM

= = ()
= +

=

An object
undergoes a

displacement and a
=

change in velocity
under the action of
a constant net =


Force .
= =
Example No. 3

The driver of a 1.00 x103 kg car traveling on the

interstate at 35.0 m/s (nearly 80.0 mph) slams on his
brakes to avoid hitting a second vehicle in front of
him, which had come to rest because of congestion
ahead. After the brakes are applied, a constant
friction force of 8.00 x 103 N acts on the car. Ignore
air resistance.
(a) At what minimum distance should the brakes be
applied to avoid a collision with the other vehicle?
(b) If the distance between the vehicles is initially only
30.0 m, at what speed would the collision occur?
Gravitational Potential
Energy

The gravitational potential energy of a

system consisting of Earth and an
object of mass m near Earths surface
is given by
=
where g is the acceleration of gravity
and y is the vertical position of the
mass relative the surface of Earth (or
some other reference point).
Example No. 4

A 60.0-kg skier is at the top of a slope, as shown. At

the initial point A, she is 10.0 m vertically above point
B.
(a) Setting the zero level for gravitational potential
energy at B, find the gravitational potential energy of
this system when the skier is at A and then at B. Finally,
find the change in potential energy of the skierEarth
system as the skier goes from point A to point B.
(b) Repeat this problem with the zero level at point A.
(c) Repeat again, with the zero level 2.00 m higher
than point B.
CONSERVATION OF
MECHANICAL ENERGY

In any isolated system of objects

interacting only through
conservative forces, the total
mechanical energy = + , of
the system, remains the same at all
times.
Example No. 5

A diver of mass m drops from

a board 10.0 m above the
waters surface, as in figure.
Neglect air resistance.
(a) Use conservation of
mechanical energy to find his
speed 5.00 m above the
waters surface.
(b) Find his speed as he hits the
water.
Example No. 6

A powerful grasshopper
launches itself at an angle
of 45 above the horizontal
and rises to a maximum
height of 1.00 m during the
leap. (See Figure) With
what speed vi did it leave
the ground? Neglect air
resistance.
Example No. 7

A skier starts from rest at the top of a frictionless

incline of height 20.0 m. At the bottom of the incline,
the skier encounters a horizontal surface where the
coefficient of kinetic friction between skis and snow
is 0.210.
(a) Find the skiers speed at the bottom.
(b) How far does the skier travel on the horizontal
surface before coming to rest? Neglect air resistance.
SPRING POTENTIAL ENERGY
POWER

If an external force does work W on

an object in the time interval t,
then the average power delivered
to the object is the work done
divided by the time interval, or

= = =