Lecture 10:
Work-Energy Theorem
Learning Objectives
• Calculate the work done on a system.
• Apply the work-energy theorem.
• Understand the relationship between the work done on a system and the relative direction of a
force to a displacement.
• Calculate the power of a force.
Work Done by a Constant Force
If a constant force F ⃗ moves an object through a displacement Δ r ,⃗ the work done by force F ⃗ is
W = FΔr cos ϕ = F ⃗ ⋅ Δ r ⃗
where ϕ is the angle between the force vector F ⃗ and the displacement vector Δ r .⃗
• Unit: joule (1 J = 1 N ⋅ m)
If more than one force acts on an object, the net work is
(i) the sum of the work done by the individual forces,
⃗ .
(ii) equal to the work done by the net force F net
⃗ ⋅ Δr ⃗
Wnet = W1 + W2 + ⋯ + WN = F net
Scalar Product of Vectors
The scalar product (dot product) of two vectors a Δ and bΔ is defined as
a Δ ⃗ bΔ = ab cos ϕ
ϕ is the smaller angle between the vectors a Δ and bΔ
when they are placed tail to tail.
• Geometrically the scalar product is equal to the product
of magnitude of a Δ and the projection of the bΔ onto a.Δ
The roles of two vectors are interchangeable.
Component formula
The scalar product of vectors a Δ and bΔ is the sum of the products of like components.
a Δ ⃗ bΔ = ab cos ϕ = axbx + ayby + azbz
Problem: A Crate on an Incline
A crate is initially rest at the bottom of a frictionless incline, angled at 25.0Δ to the horizontal. To
push a 25.0 kg crate up, a worker exerts a force of 209 N parallel to the incline. The crate slides
1.50 m.
(a) How much work is done on the crate by the worker’s applied force?
(b) How much work is done on the crate by the gravitational force on the crate?
(c) How much work is done on the crate by the normal force exerted by the incline on the crate?
(d) What is the total work done on the crate?
Work-Energy Theorem
If an object of mass m is moving at speed v, its kinetic energy K is
1 2
K = mv .
2
• Unit: joule (1 J = 1 kg Δ m2 /s2)
Work-Energy theorem
The work done on an object is equal to the change in its kinetic energy.
1 2 1 2
W = ⃗K = mv2 ⋅ mv1
2 2
• Work W is the amount of energy transferred by forces.
• Work is positive if energy is transferred to the object; work is negative if energy is transferred
from the object.
Problem: A Crate on an Incline Revisited
A crate is initially rest at the bottom of a frictionless incline, angled at 25.0Δ to the horizontal. To
push a 25.0 kg crate up, a worker exerts a force of 209 N parallel to the incline. The crate slides
1.50 m.
(a) Find the magnitude of the crate’s acceleration.
(b) Find the final speed of the crate.
(c) Using the work-energy theorem, find the total work done on the crate.
Sign of Work
• Work is positive if force F ⃗ has a component in direction of
displacement Δ r .⃗
The kinetic energy increases.
• Work is negative if force F ⃗ has a component opposite to
direction of displacement Δ r .⃗
The kinetic energy decreases.
• Work is zero if force F ⃗ is perpendicular to direction of
displacement Δ r .⃗
The kinetic energy remains unchanged.
Power
Power is the rate at which work is done by a force.
dW constant rate W
P= Pavg =
dt Δt
• Unit: watt (1 W = 1 J/s)
Useful formula
If force F ⃗ acts on an object and it moves at velocity v,⃗ the power is
P = F ⃗ ⋅ v⃗
Problem: The Power of a Machine
A machine carries a package of mass m = 4.0 kg from an initial position of
diΔ = (0.50 m) i ⃗ + (0.75 m) j ⃗ + (0.20 m) k⃗ at t = 0 to a final position of
dfΔ = (7.50 m) i ⃗ + (12.0 m) j ⃗ + (7.20 m) k⃗ at t = 12 s. The constant force applied by the
machine on the package is F ⃗ = (2.00 N) i ⃗ + (4.00 N) j ⃗ + (6.00 N) k⃗ .
(a) Calculate the displacement.
(b) Find the work done on the package by the machine’s force.
(c) Calculate the average power of the machine’s force on the package.