CHAPTER – 6

WORK, ENERGY AND POWER

1. Work

The work done by a force is the product of the magnitude of force component in the direction of
displacement and the displacement of this object.

If force F is acting at angle θ with respect to the displacement d of the object, its component along d will
be F cos θ.

Then work done by force F is given by W = F cosθ.d

In vector form, the work done is given by: W = F. d

2. Unit of work done

Force * displacement ➔ Newton metre (Nm) or Joule (J)

Problem

Q: A force of 6 N is applied on an object at an angle of 60º with the horizontal. Calculate the work done in
moving the object by 2m in the horizontal direction.

Solution :

we know that W = Fd cosθ = 6×2 × cos 60º = 6×2 × (½) = 6 J

Q. A force 𝐹⃗ = 3𝑖̂ − 4𝑗̂ + 2𝑘̂N moves a body through displacement 𝑑⃗ = 5𝑖̂ + 2𝑗̂ − 𝑘̂m. Find work done.

Work 𝑊 = 𝐹⃗ ⋅ 𝑑⃗

𝑊 = (3)(5) + (−4)(2) + (2)(−1) = 15 − 8 − 2 = 5 J

Answer: 5 J

Q: A force 𝐹⃗ = 2𝑖̂ + 3𝑗̂N acts while the particle moves from 𝐴(1,2)to 𝐵(6, −1). Find work done.

𝑑⃗ = 𝐴𝐵
⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ = (6 − 1)𝑖̂ + (−1 − 2)𝑗̂ = 5𝑖̂ − 3𝑗̂
𝑊 = 𝐹⃗ ⋅ 𝑠⃗ = (2)(5) + (3)(−3) = 10 − 9 = 1 J

Answer: 1 J

3. Positive, negative and zero work done

✓ Positive work done

When force and displacement are in the same direction. (00 ≤ θ < 900)
✓ Negative work done
When force acts in the opposite direction to displacement. (900 < θ ≤ 1800)
 ✓ Zero work done

• When force = 0

• When displacement = 0

• When force is perpendicular to displacement (𝐹⃗ ⊥ 𝑠⃗) θ = 900

4. Work Done by the Force of Gravity

When an object is lifted upward, the force of gravity (mg) acts downward, while the displacement is
upward.
The angle between force and displacement is 𝜃 = 180∘ .

𝑾 = 𝑭𝒅𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝟏𝟖𝟎∘ = −𝒎𝒈𝒉

Here, Work done by gravity is negative.

When an object is lowered downward, both the force of gravity (mg) and the displacement act
downward.
The angle between force and displacement is 𝜃 = 0∘ .

𝑾 = 𝑭𝒅𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝟎∘ = +𝒎𝒈𝒉

Here, Work done by gravity is positive

But,

• When an object is lifted upward, the work done by gravitational force is negative, while the work
done by the person lifting the object is positive.

• When an object is lowered downward, the work done by gravitational force is positive, while the
work done by the person lowering the object is negative.

5. Work Done by a Variable Force

When the force varies with position 𝐹(𝑥), the work done from 𝑥𝑖 to 𝑥𝑓 is found by dividing the
displacement into very small intervals Δ𝑥, assuming the force is constant in each interval. The total work
done is the sum of all small works and is given by

𝑊 = lim ∑𝐹(𝑥) Δ𝑥
Δ𝑥→0

which is numerically equal to the area under the force–distance graph between 𝑥𝑖 and 𝑥𝑓 .
6. Work done by a Spring

The work done by a spring when it is stretched or compressed by a displacement 𝑥 is

1
𝑊 = 𝑘𝑥 2 ,
2

where 𝑘 is the spring constant and 𝑥 is the displacement from the mean position.
This work is stored in the spring as elastic potential energy.

7. Power

If Δ𝑊work is done in time Δ𝑡, the average power is defined as the ratio of work done to the time taken.
Work done
Average Power =
Time taken

Mathematically, we can write:

Δ𝑊
𝑃avg = Δ𝑡

Unit of power = Joules/second or Watt (W).

✓ Watt is the SI unit of Power.
✓ Another unit of power is horse power (hp).
✓ 1 hp = 746 W
✓ Using watt, we can define another unit of energy.
Energy
Since, Power = ,
Time

we get, Energy = Power × Time.

For large amounts of energy, a bigger practical unit called kilowatt hour (kWh) is used.

1 kWh = 1000 W × 3600 s = 3.6 × 106 J

 Kilowatt hour is commonly used to measure electrical energy consumption in homes (electricity
bills).

8. Kinetic and potential energy

Kinetic Energy

Kinetic energy is the energy possessed by a body due to its motion.

1
Equation: Kinetic Energy (K.E.) = 2 𝑚𝑣 2
where
𝑚= mass of the body
𝑣= velocity of the body

Potential Energy

Potential energy is the energy possessed by a body due to its position or configuration.

Equation (Gravitational Potential Energy): Potential Energy (P.E.) = 𝑚𝑔ℎ

where
𝑚= mass of the body
𝑔= acceleration due to gravity
ℎ= height above the reference level

SI unit of both kinetic and potential energy: joule (J)

9. Work-Energy Theorem

The work-energy theorem states that the work done by the resultant of all forces acting on a body is equal
to the change in kinetic energy of the body.

Mathematically:

𝑊 = Δ𝐾 = 𝐾𝑓 − 𝐾𝑖

where
𝑊= work done by the net force
𝐾𝑖 = initial kinetic energy
𝐾𝑓 = final kinetic energy

If work done is positive, kinetic energy increases

If work done is negative, kinetic energy decreases
10. Law of Conservation of Energy

Law of Conservation of Energy states that the total energy of an isolated system always remains

constant.

11. Conservative and Non-conservative (Dissipative) Forces

(a) Conservative Forces

• A conservative force is one for which the work done depends only on the initial and final
positions, not on the path followed.
• Work done over a closed path is zero.
• Potential energy can be defined for such forces.

Examples:

• Gravitational force
• Elastic (spring) force
• Electrostatic force

(b) Non-conservative (Dissipative) Forces

• A non-conservative force is one for which the work done depends on the path followed.
• Work done over a closed path is not zero.
• Mechanical energy is not conserved; it is converted into other forms (usually heat).

Example:

• Frictional force

Key idea:

• Friction does negative work, converting kinetic energy into thermal energy.

12. Collisions

• A collision occurs when two bodies interact with each other for a short time.
• A system with no external force acting on it is called a closed system.

Types of Collisions

(i) Perfectly Elastic Collision

• The forces involved are conservative.

• Total momentum and total kinetic energy are conserved.
• Kinetic energy before collision = kinetic energy after collision.
• Bodies move in opposite direction
 Examples:

• Collision between gas molecules

• Collision of billiard balls (approximately)

(c) Velocity relation

Rearranging we get

(ii) Perfectly Inelastic Collision

• The colliding bodies stick together after collision and move as a single body.
• Momentum is conserved, but kinetic energy is not conserved (maximum loss).
• Part of kinetic energy is converted into heat, sound, or deformation energy.
• After collision bodies move together

Example:

• A bullet embedding into a target

(a) Momentum equation

(b) Kinetic energy equation

 Important Note

• Momentum is conserved in all types of collisions because no external force acts on the
system.
• Kinetic energy is conserved only in elastic collisions.