Work, Power and Energy

WORKED EXAMPLES
1. Find the work done by a person in carrying a box weighing 30 kg
over his head when he travels a distance of 20 m in i) on a plane
ground ii) vertically up.

2. Find the work done in lifting 4 cement bags, each of mass 50 kg

to the top of a building of height m.
3. If F=1+2 x+3 x 2 +4 x 3 +5 x 4 is the force acting on a particle,
calculate the work done when x changes from 0 to 5 . F is in
newtons and x is in meters).
4. A lorry and a car having some kinetic energy are brought to
rest by the application of equal retarding forces. Find which of
them will come to rest in a shorter distance.

F =3 ⃗ı −4 ⃗j+ 5 ⃗k ; ⃗S =6 i⃗ +2 ⃗j−5 k⃗ then find the work done.

5. ⃗

6. Find the work in displacing a particle from x=1 m to x=3 m by a

force Fx=(6 x −5) N
7. A person of mass 0 kg, carrying a suitcase of mass 20 kg runs
horizontally through a dis-tance of 20 m to catch a bus. What is
the work done by the gravitational force against the man ?
2
g=10 m/s
8. Find the work done in rai-sing a mass of 2 kg through a vertical
height of 20 m ; g=9.8 m/sec 2
a) 39.2 joules
b) 39200 joules
c) 3920 joules
d) 392 joules

9. A man pushes a lawn roller through a distance of 10 m by

applying a force of 100 N in a direction at an angle of 60∘ to the
ground. Find the work done.
a) 500 watts
b) 500 ergs
c) 500 joules
d) 1000 joules
10. The displacement x of a particle of mass m moving in one
direction under the action of a constant force is related to the
 time by the equation ¿ √ x+ 3, where x is in metres and t in
seconds. Find.
a) the displacement of the particle when its velocity is zero.

b) the work done by the force in the first 6 sec

11.A body falling from a height metres rebounds from a hard floor.
it loses 20 % of its energy in impact
will rise
a) 10 m
d) 12 m
c) 5 m

12. A pump can hoist 9000 kg of coal per hour from a mine of
120 m deep. Calculate the power of the pump, in watts assuming
its efficiency is 75 % . g=9.8 m/sec 2
a) 3.92 watts
b) 39.2 watts
c) 392 watts
d) 3920 watts

13. Sind drops fall vertically at the rate of 2 kg / xec on to a

conveyor belt moving horizontally with a velocity of . 2 m/s .
Then the extra power erquired is
a) 0.411
bi 0.08 wF
ci 0.04 II
di 0.2 wI
14. A body is moved along a straight by a machine delivering
power. The distance moved body in time t is proportional to
a) t 2/ 3
b) t 3/ 4
c) t 3/ 2
d) t 2
21. A train of mass 100 metric ton: travelling with a velocity
of 36 km/hr along an inclined path 1 in 100 De frictional force is
100 N per tou of 4 train. What is the power of the engine ?
2
g=10 m/s
 13. A uniform rod of length l and mass m is fixed at the top
and is initially hanging vertical. What is the increase in p . E . (or
work done) when the rod is pulled to a side so that the rod
makes an angle θ with the verticle?

1
14. A uniform chain is held on a frictionless table with of
3
its length hanging over the edge. If the chain has a length l and
is of mass m , how much work is required to pull the hanging
part back on the table ?

15. A ladder is of length 2 m and it mass kg. It has a load of

2.5 kg a one end. What is the work done i raising it from the
horizontal positio on the ground to the vertical positio with the
load at the top.
2
g=10 m/s .... Joules.
 16. Calculate the power developed b 50 kg girl climbing up a
verti stairway at the rate of m/sec .
a) 98 watts
b) 980 watts
c) 9800 watts
d) 9.8 watts
mgh
Ans : Formula P=
t

h
But =¿ velocity ¿ v
t

Hence P=mg x v
=50 x 9.8 x 2=980 watt

17. A bus of mass 1000 kg has an' engine which produces a

constant power of 50 kw . If the resistance to motion, assumed
constant is 00 N .
a) find the maximum speed at which the bus can travel on level road

b) the acceleration of the train when it is travelling at 25 m/ s

Ans : a) At maximum speed, all the power is used to overcome the resi-
stance to motion

Since p=Fv

50,000=1000× t

or, v=50 m/s

b) When the train is travelling at 25 m/ s let F be the force exerted by the

engine and f the resistance due to motion. Then,

(F−f )=ma

and P=F ×i

or, 50,000=F ×25 ; or, F=2000 N

From eq (1),

2000−1000=1000 ×a
2
or, a=1 m/ s
 18. A body of mass 0.1 kg is dropped from a height of 10 m at a
place where the acceleration due to gravity is m/sec 2. Its KE just
before it strikes the ground is

a) 1 joule
b) 1.04 joules
c) 5 joules
d) 10 joules
Ans : The PE , at the top ¿ K . E at the bo-ttom

∴ K . E :=0.1 ×10 ×10

¿ 10 J

Hence (d) is the correct answer

19. A body having a mass of 100 gm is allowed to fall freely

under the action of gravity. What is its KE . after 10
2
sec ? g=1000 cm/sec
a) 5 joules
b) 50 joules
c) 500 joules
d) 5000 joutes
1 2
Ans : Formula K ⋅ E= mv
2

For the freely falling body v=¿

t
∴ v =1000× 10=10 cm/ sec

1 4 4
∴ KE. ¿ ×100 ×10 × 10
2
¿ ¿
Hence ( l is the correct answer.

20. A body having a velocity of 2 m/ s has a K . E of 1 joule.

What is its mass?
a) 1 kg
b) 0.5 kg
c) 1.5 kg
d) 2 kg
1 2
Ans : Formula : m v =E
2
 1
or × m× 2× 2=1
2
2 1
∴ m= = =0.5 kg
4 2

Hence (b) is the correct answer

21. If the velocity of a car is trebled its K.E. is (Andhra

Medical, 1979)
a) doubled

b) trebled

c) increases 9 times

d) increased 15 times

1 2
Ans: The KE is given by E= m v
2

1
Since m is constant
2
2
E1 v 1
=
E2 v 2
2
E1 v1 1
or, = 2
=
E2 ( 3 v l ) 9
or, E 2=9 El

Hence (c) is the correct answer

22. A bullet travelling with a velocity of √ 2 m/s pierces a plank

of certain thickness and comes to a stop. What should be the
velocity of the bullet to be stopped by double the thickness of
the same plank? .......m/s
Ans : According to work - energy, theorem,

1 2
W =F × s= m v
2

Since F and m are constants, s ∝ v 2

2
s1 v1
or, = 2
s2 v2
 s
or, =¿ ¿
2s

or, v 2 2=2 ×2=4

or, v 2=2 m/s

23. A lorry and a car moving with the same kinetic energy are
brought to rest by the application of brakes which provide
equal retar-ding forces. Which of them will come to rest in a
shorter distance?
Ans: When the vehicle is stopped, the work done (F × s) is equal to the
kinetic energy of vehicle.

1 2
W =F × s= m v =E
2

Since E is the same and F is the same for both car and lorry s should be the
same. Hence both come to rest at the same distance.

24. Energy required to accelerate a car from 10 to 20 m/ s

compared with that required to accelerate from 0 to 10 m/ s in
the same interval of time covering the same distance, is
a) twice
b) four times
c) three times
d) same
Ans: The (kinetic) energy accelerate a car of mass velocity v 1 to a velocity v 2
is

1
E= m ( v 2−v 1)
2 2
2

In the first case,

1 300 m
E1= m ( 20 −10 )=
2 2
2 2

In the second case.

1 100 m
E2= m ( 10 −0 )=
2
2 2

E 1 300 m 2
∴ = × =3
E2 2 100 m

or, E1=3 E 2
Hence (c) is the correct answer.

25. Under the action of a force, a 2 body moves such that its
positi
body body moves such that its position (in metres) as a
3
t
function of time? sec) is given by x= . The work done by the
3
force in the first two seconds
a) 160 J
b) 1600 J
c) 16 J
d) 1 J
Ans : The work done is equal to the KE acquired.

1 2
or, W = m v
2
3
t
Given x=
3
2
dx t 2
∴v= =3 × =t
dt 3

The velocity after 2 sec is v

¿ 2× 2=4 m/s
1
∴ W = × 2× 4 × 4=16 J
2

Hence (c) is the correct answer.

26. An object of mass 5 kg falls from res through a vertical

dis-tance of 20 m and reaches a velocity of m/s. Ho much work
is done by the push of 9 on the object ? g=10 m/s 2 … Joul
Ans : Let F be the force due to the put of air. Then the work done by th
resultant force is equal to the KB acquired by the body. (Fig. 6.9)

1 2
(mg−F )× s= m v
2
1 2
mgs−F × s= m v
2

Hence the work done by the force F is

 1 2
F × s=¿ mgs− m v Fig. 6.9
2
1
¿ 5 ×10 ×20− ×5 ×100
2
¿1000−250=750 J

27. Under a conservative force, F=−kr where r is the

displacement and k is a constant. Find its P . E
−dU
Ans : If U is the PE of the body F=
dr

dU
or, =kr .
dr

1 2
or, U = k ⋅r +C .
2

If reference point is so chosen that the constant C=0 , then,

1 2
U= kr
2

28. A ball falls freely under gravity from a height of 10 m with

an initial velocity v 0. It collides with the ground and loses 50 %
of its energy in collision and then rises back to the same
height. Find
a) the initial velocity v 0

b) the height to which the ball would rise, if the initial velocity v 0 was
directed upward, instead of down wards.

Ans : a) Let the velocity of the ball as it just touches the ground be v . Since
the increase in KE . is equal to the decrease in PE .
1 2 1 2
m v − m v 0=mgh
2 2
2 2
v −v 0
or, =gh
2

or, v 2−v 20 =2hg

Since 50 % of the K.E is lost in collision and the ball rises to the same height.

1 1 2
× m v =mgh
2 2
2
or, v =4 gh

From (1), and (2)

2
4 gh−u0 =2 gh

or, v 20=2 gh=2 ×9.8 ×10=196

∴ or, v σ =14 m/ s

b) If v 0 is directed upwards, the ball while returning has the same velocity
v 0=14 m/s above 10 m height. Hence the ball rebounces to the same height.

[Link] bob of a 1.6 m long pen-dulum has a mass of 0 .9 kg . It is pulled

aside to make an angle of 60∘ with the vertical ( g=10 m/s 2 )
a) Calculate the work done on the bob..... joules.

b) When the bob is released, what is its velocity as it passes the lowest point
of its equilibrium position ? -p... m/s .

Ans: a) The work done on the bob is equal to the increase in its P.E (Fig.
6.10)

∴W
¿ ¿ ( )
¿ mgh=0.9 ×10 ×1.6 ( 1−cos ⁡60 ∘) ¿=9 ×1.6 1− 1 ¿
2
 1
¿ 9 ×1.6 × =7.2 Joules
2

b) Since the loss in PE. is equal to the gain in K . E

1 2
mgl (1−cos ⁡θ)= m v
2

1 2
or, 7.2= × 0.9 ×v
2

2 7.2 ×2
or, v = =16
0.9

or, v=4 m/s .

35. Two bodies A and B masses m and 2 m respectively are

placed on a smooth floor. They are conne-cted by a spring. A
third body C moves with velocity v 0 along the line joining A and
B and collides elastically with A as shown in fig. 6.11. At a
certain instant of time t 0 after collision, it is found that the
instantaneous velocities of A and B are the same. Further at
this instant the compression of the spring is found to be x 0.
Determine ) the common velocity of A and B at time t 0 and ii )
the spring constant.
Ans: Since the collision is elastic, then after the collision, C comes to rest
and A moves with velocity v 0. If v is the common velocity of A and B, it
follows from the law of conservation of energy.

1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2
m v 0= m v + ×2 m v + k x 0
2 2 2 2

where k is the spring constant.

2 2 2
or, m v 0 =3 m v + k x 0

i) By the law of conservation of momentum,

m v 0=mv+2 mv

vo
∴v=
3

ii) From eqs, (1) and (2)

( )
2 2
2 v0 2 mv
m v 0=3 m + k x 0 or, k x 20=m v 20 − 0
3 3

2 2
¿ m v0
3
2
2m v 0
or, k = 2
3 x0

36. Calculate the K . E . of a ball of 100 gm and momentum

1000 gm
cm/ s.
a) 5 ×106 ergs
b) 5 ×105 ergs
c) 5 ×10 4 ergs
d. i× 103 ergs
Ans : If m is the mass of the body momentum and E is the K . E . of it body.
2
p
E=
2m
1000 ×1000
∴ E= =5,000
2 ×100
¿ 5 ×103 ergs .

Hence (d) is the correct answer

 37. If the velocity of a car is trebled its K E is
a) doubled

b) trebled

c) increases 9 times

d) increases 15 times

1 3 1
Ans : The K ⋅ E , is given by E= m v Since m is constant
2 2
2
E1 v 1
=
E2 v 22

E1 v 21 v 21 1
∴ = = =
E 2 ( 3 v 21 9 v 21 9
∴ E 2=9 E1

Hence K . E . increases 9 times and ¿ c is the correct answer

38. A 0.1 kg body is suspended from a 0.15 m long weightless

spring of force constant 0 N /m. After stretching it through
0.02 m the spring is released. Find the K . E . of the body when
the compression is 0.01 m .....
Ans : The maximum P . E of the spring =

1 2
kx ¿
2

When the compression is 0 .01 m , it has both P . E and K . E .

1 2
PE=¿ h x
2
¿
If K . E is its kinetic energy, it follows from the law of conservation of energy.

0.02=0.005+ K . E
or, K . E .=0.02−0.005
¿ 0.015 Joules

39. Two blocks A and B are connected to each other by a

string. The string passes over a frictionless pulley. The block B
slides over the to P of the stationary block C and the block A
slides along the vertical side of C , both with the same unif
speed. The co-efficient of friction between the surface of blocks
 is 0,2 Force constant of the spring is 196 N /m . If the mass of
block A is 2 k p calculate the mass of block B and th energy
stored in the spring

Ans : Since the block A does not exert an weight or force on C , there is D 0
normal reaction and hence there is ne friction

between A and C .

For the block A , for uniform motion,

T =m1 g=2 g

For the block B,

T ¿ μ m2 g
¿ ¿
From eqs. (1) and (2)

0.2 m, g=2 g

2
or, m 2= =10 kg .
0.2

The spring is stretched by the force T ¿ m 1 g=2× 9.8=19.6 N

If x is the extension of the spring,

T 19.6
x= = =0.01 m
k 1960

1 2
The energy stored E= k x
2