Work, Energy, and Power
Module 5
Work: Motion in One Dimension with a Constant Force
(Set A)
Learning Objectives:
You should be able to
➢ Define mechanical work
➢ Apply the relationship between a force (magnitude and direction) and
the work done on an object by the force when the object undergoes a
displacement.
➢ Calculate the net work done on the object by the multiple forces act on
it.
➢ Define and calculate kinetic energy
➢ Relate the work and energy through work-energy principle
The word work is commonly used in a variety of ways. But work has a
different meaning in physics than it does in everyday usage. Work involves force
and displacement, and by using this word it describes quantitatively what is
accomplished when a force moves an object through a distance. Also, work is
energy transferred to or from an object via a force acting on.
Work
A measure of the amount of change to which a force gives rise when it
acts on something. The work done by a constant force in moving an object is
equal to the product of the magnitudes of the displacement and the component
of the force parallel to the displacement.
Work W is said to be done on the object by the force. Generally, it is scalar
quantity expressed as:
𝑾 = 𝑭∥ 𝒅 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑘 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑎 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒 𝑼𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒔
Quantity MKS CGS
Work (W) Joule (J); 1 J=1 Nm erg
Force (F) N dyne
Distance or m cm
displacement (d)
Figure 1: 1 Joule = 1
Finding an Expression for Work Newton force lifted
an object by 1 meter
To calculate the work a force does on an object as the object moves through some high
displacement, use only the force parallel or the force component along the object’s
displacement.
A. Horizontal Motion: The object is displaced horizontally.
1. A constant force F in the same direction as the displacement. (see Figure 2)
𝑾 = 𝑭𝒅 (Force oriented at = 00)
Figure 2: Force applied is parallel
the displacement
Work, Energy, and Power
2. A constant force F exerted at an angle with respect to the displacement
(see Figure 3)
𝑾 = 𝑭𝒅 𝐜𝐨𝐬 (Force oriented at = between 00 - 900)
Note:
✓ Only the component of Force that is along the displacement can
do work on the object.
Figure 3: Applied force at certain angle
3. Force F is perpendicular to the displacement.
(see Figure 4)
𝑾=𝟎
(Force oriented at = 900)
Figure 4: Force applied at 900
4. If the direction of force F is opposite to that of the
displacement d. The work done by this force is negative. (see Figure 5)
𝑾 = −𝒇 𝒅
Figure 5: The object is being push toward to
5. The force of gravity does no work on object that moves parallel to the the right while the friction force is also
Earth’s surface. (see Figure 6) acting on the object toward the left.
𝑾𝐹𝑔 = 𝟎
In this case the force of gravity is the one being considered as the force acting upon an object and
oriented at 900 (or 2700) relative to the displacement.
Figure 6: Force of gravity is considered as the
force acting on the bag as being carried out by
the applied force.
B. Vertical Motion: The object is displaced vertically.
1. Work done to lift an object. Force is parallel to the vertical distance.
𝑾 = 𝒘𝒉 (see Figure 7) Figure 7: Applied force lifts the object upward
𝑾 = 𝒎𝒈𝒉
2. Force of gravity does the work on object
𝑾 = 𝒘𝒉 (see Figure 8: Free- Fall)
𝑾 = 𝒎𝒈𝒉
𝑾 = − 𝒘𝒉 (see Figure 9: Moving against the gravity)
𝑾 = − 𝒎𝒈𝒉
Figure 8: Object falls Figure 9: Force of gravity acts
freely on the object while it is moving
upward
Work, Energy, and Power
Generalization of Force and Displacement
Signs for Work
The work done on an object by a force can be either positive work or negative work. If the angle is less than 900,
then the work is positive (+ W if the force on the object is the same direction of the displacement/distance.) If the angle
is greater than 900 (up to 1800), then the work is negative ( - W if the force on the object is in opposite direction of the
displacement/distance. The force does not cause the displacement but rather hinders it.)
Net Work
When two or more forces act on an object, the net
work done on the object is the sum of the works done by the
individual forces.
𝑾𝒏𝒆𝒕 = 𝑾𝑭 + 𝑾𝑭𝒈 + 𝑾𝑵 + 𝑾𝒇
Note:
Figure 10: Forces acting upon an object
➢ zero net work means constant velocity and zero net force.
➢ Nonzero net work causes a change in the amount of kinetic energy an object has.
Cautions
There are two restrictions to using these equations to calculate work done on an object by a force.
First, the force must be a constant force; that is, it must not change in magnitude or direction as the object moves.
Second, the object must be particle-like. This means that the object must be rigid; all parts of it must move together, in
the same direction. To Do Work, Forces Must Cause Displacements
Example Problems:
1. How much work must a car produce to drive 150 km if an average force of 500 N must be maintained to overcome
friction?
Work, Energy, and Power
2. If the coefficient of friction is 0.22 and the total mass is 15 kg,
determine
a. the value of F needed to move it at constant velocity to the right.
b. the work done by the force F as it moves 10 m to the right.
c. the work done by gravity as it moves 10 m to the right.
d. the work done by the normal force as it moves 10 m to the right
e. the work done by the friction force as it moves 10 m to the right.
f. the total word done on the object.
Work, Energy, and Power
Work, Energy, and Power
Module 5
Set A
Problem Solving. Follow the procedure in answering the problem.
1. Apply the work equation to determine the amount
of work done by the applied force in each of the three
situations described at the right: Show only the
solution and box the final answer.
2. (a) A forceof 120 N is used to lift a mass to a height of 8.0 m. How much work is done by the force? (b) A force of 120
N is used to push the same mass on a horizontal frictionless surface for a distance of 8.0 m. How much work is done by
the force?
3. A block moves up a 300 incline under the action of certain forces, three of which
are shown at the right. F1 is horizontal and of magnitude 40 N. F2 is normal to the
plane and of magnitude 20 N. F3 is parallel to the plane and magnitude
30 N. (a) Determine the work done by each force as the block (and point of
application of each force) moves 80 cm up the incline. (b) What is the work done by
the gravity? (c) Find the total work done on the block excluding the work of frictional
force.