Work, Energy and
Power
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Learning outcomes
n Define and calculate work, energy
(potential and kinetic energy) and power.
n Define the law of conservation of energy.
n Differentiate between heat energy and
temperature.
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The Law of Conservation of
Energy
n Energy cannot be destroyed or created.
n Energy can, however, be transformed
from one type to another AND transferred
from one body to another, BUT, the total
amount of energy in the process remains
CONSTANT!
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Work
The work is done when a force is exerted to
move an object through a distance in the
direction of force.
W = F . d cos θ (unit: Joule)
Unit : [W] = N m = J (Joule)
F : magnitude of the force in the direction of the
displacement
d : magnitude of displacement
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* One Joule is the work done when a force of 1 Newton acts over a
distance of 1 meter in the direction of the force: 1 J = 1 N x 1 m
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Work
n Work is done on a system where an applied force results in some net
displacement
n A force that results in no displacement does no work (d=0)
n A displacement that results with no applied force has had no work
done (orbital motion, the gravitational force is always
perpendicular to the motion so the work done is always zero)
(F=0)
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Example - work
30o
15 kg
A 100 N force is applied at an angle of 30o to the horizontal to
move a 15 kg object at a constant speed for a horizontal
distance of 5 m.
W = F.d cos θ
= 100N X 5m cos 30o
= 433Nm @ 433J 7
Energy
nEnergy is the ability to do work
OR
n Work causes changes in energy
OR
n Work is a transfer of energy
n The amount of energy sometime is the
amount of work it can do.
n The unit of energy is the Joule (J). 8
Kinetic and Potential Energy
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Kinetic Energy
lKinetic Energy is
the
energy of motion.
Potential Energy
lPotential Energy is
stored energy.
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Kinetic energy
n Kinetic energy depends on the mass
and the velocity of an object.
n The formula for KE is:
Kinetic energy = ½ x mass x velocity
squared
(joules) (kg) (m/s)2
K.E = ½ mv2
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Example - Kinetic energy
Example 1
An elephant of mass
2500 kg travelling at
6.2 m/s has kinetic
energy?
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KE = ½ mv2
KE = ½ x 2500 x 6.2
x 6.2
= 48 050 Joules
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Example 2 :
n What is the kinetic energy of a 3.8 kg
shot-put thrown by an athlete at a
speed of 20 m/s?
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Kinetic energy = 1/2 mv2
= 1/2 x 3.8 kg x (20 m/s)2
= 1/2 x 3.8 kg x 400m2/s2
=?
760 Joules
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POTENTIAL ENERGY
n An object can store energy as the result of
its position.
n This stored energy of position is referred
to as potential energy.
n The formula of PE is:
PE = mass x gravity x height
(J) (kg) (m/s2) (m)
g = 9.81 m/s2 or 10 m/s2 16
EXAMPLE POTENTIAL
ENERGY
Example 1
A rock of mass 0.86kg is released from rest from a
10.3 m tall building. What is its potential energy ?
Potential Energy = mgh
= 0.86 kg x 10 m/s2 x 10.3 m
=?
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Example 2
n What is the potential energy of a 11.4 kg
mass raised to a height of 26.7 m?
g = 10 N/kg
Potential Energy = (mass x gravity x height change)
= 11.4 kg x 10 N/kg x height = N x height
Height change = height at end - height at start
= 26.7 - 0 = 26.7 m
Potential energy =?
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Answer Example 2
n Eg. 1= 88.58 kg m2 / s2
n Eg. 2 = 3.0438 EXP 3 J/ 3.0438 x 103 J
n Eg. 3 = Rearranging:
v2 = 2gh
v2 = 2 x 10 m/s x 80 m = 1600
m2/s2
v = 40 m/s
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Example 3
A coin is dropped from the viewing platform of an
observation tower 80 m high. How fast will it travel just
before it hits the ground?
Potential Energy = Kinetic Energy
mgh = 1/2 mv2
m's cancel out
*Why don't you need to know the mass?
We don't need the mass as the masses cancel
out.
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KINETIC ENERGY AND POTENTIAL
ENERGY
o K.E. = 0.5(mass x speed2)
o P.E. = mass x gravity x height
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Power (P)
n Power is the rate at which work is done or the rate at
which energy is transferred.
n Symbol: P
Power = energy transferred (J) = work done (J)
time taken (s) time taken (s)
n The unit of power is the Watt (SI unit), equivalent to J/s.
n 1 Watt = 1J/s (1 horse power = 746 watts)
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Example - power
Example 1
n If 100 Joules of work was done in 10 seconds,
what power was used?
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Power = work done (J)
time taken (s)
= 100 J / 10 s
= 10 J/s
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Example 2
n A box is pushed 5 m across a room with a force
of 30 N. What is the work done and how much
energy is used? It takes 20 seconds to push the
box across the room. What is the power?
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Work done = Force x displacement
= 30 N x 5 m
= 150 J
Energy used = 150 J
Power = energy / time
= 150 J / 20 s
= 7.5 W
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Heat and Temperature
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TEMPERATURE
n Temperature is a measure of the degree of
hotness of a body.
n It measures the average translational kinetic
energy of the molecules in a body.
n The SI unit is in Kelvin, not oC. The
conversion unit formula is:
T (K) = 273.15 + t (oC)
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HEAT
n Heat is a form of energy being transferred from
a hot body to a cold body.
n Is the quantity of thermal energy that enters or
leaves a body.
n Heat is the transfer of energy due to a difference
in temperature.
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DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HEAT
AND TEMPERATURE
Temperature Heat
Not energy, the degree of A form of energy.
hotness of a body.
Base quantity Derived quantity
Unit: Kelvin (K) or degree Unit: Joule (J)
Celcius (oC)
Can be measured using No specific measuring
thermometer equipment
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The human body does not transform food energy with 100%
efficiency. It is more like 20% efficient. Some energy is always
wasted. So we would actually have to climb only about (0.2)(3600)
= 720 m, which is more reasonable 33
SPECIFIC HEAT CAPACITY
The specific heat capacity of a substance is
the quantity of heat needed to increase the
temperature of mass of 1 kg by 1 oC or 1 K.
Specific Heat Capacity,c can be calculated
from the amount of heat supplied, Q to a mass,
m of the substance and the increase in
temperature, ΔT.
c= Q (unit : J kg-1 C-1 )
m ΔT
The quantity of heat absorbed or lost from a
body is given by
Q = m c ΔT |ΔT| =Always positive
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n Difference
substance are
said to have
different specific
heat capacities, c.
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Example question
n Water has a specific heat capacity of 4200 J kg-
1 C-1. What is the amount of energy that is
needed to bring 1.5 kg water to the boil from
20 oC?
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EXAMPLE ANSWER
Formula first: Q = m x c x ΔT
Temperature change, ΔT = 100 o C - 20 o C
= 80 o C @
Energy = 1.5 kg x 4200 J kg-1 C-1 x 80 o C
Energy = 504 000 J
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