Work energy and power

72 important questions on Work energy and power

What is a scalar quantity?

  • Has only magnitude
  • No direction
  • Example: Work

When does a force perform no work on an object?

  • Force perpendicular to displacement.
  • No displacement.
  • \(\cos 90^\circ = 0\), so work \(W = 0\).

What is the unit of work?

  • Joule (J)
  • 1 Joule = 1 Newton × 1 meter (1 Nm)
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What is necessary to specify when measuring work on an object?

  • Specify which object
  • Specify which force
  • Specify which distance

What happens when force and displacement are parallel?

  • Positive work is done.
  • Angle \(\theta = 0^\circ\).
  • \(W = F \Delta x \cos 0^\circ\).

How is work calculated when force and displacement are at an angle?

  • Work = \( F \cos \theta \Delta x \)
  • \( F \) = Force
  • \( \Delta x \) = Displacement
  • \( \theta \) = Angle between force and displacement

Describe the Law of Conservation of Mechanical Energy.

  • Energy can't be created/destroyed.
  • Converts from one form to another.
  • \(E{pA} + E{kA} = E{pB} + E{kB}\).

What will positive net work do to a system's energy?

  • Positive net work will:
    • Increase energy of the system.
    • Increase speed of the system.

How do you calculate the work done by each force?

  1. Draw free-body diagram
  2. Show all forces exerted
  3. Use: \(W = F \Delta x \cos \theta\)

What is the result when force and displacement are anti-parallel?

  • Negative work is done.
  • Angle \(\theta = 180^\circ\).
  • \(W = F \Delta x \cos 180^\circ\).

What components does applied force \( F \) have?

  • Vertical: \( F \sin \theta \)
  • Horizontal: \( F \cos \theta \)
  • \( F \cos \theta \) does the work

What is the formula for work done when force and displacement are in the same direction?

  • Formula: \(W = F \Delta x\).
  • \(W\) = work done (Joules).
  • \(F\) = force (Newton).
  • \(\Delta x\) = displacement (meters).

What is the work-energy theorem?

  • Net work done on an object equals change in kinetic energy.
  • \( W{\text{net}} = \Delta Ek \)
  • \(\Delta Ek = E{kf} - E{ki} \)
  • \(\Delta Ek = \frac{1}{2}mvf^2 - \frac{1}{2}mvi^2 \)

What does the angle 30° represent in the calculation?

  • Angle of applied force to the floor
  • Used in \(\cos \theta\) calculations

Describe the work done when \(\theta\) is acute (< \(90^\circ\)).

  • Work is positive.
  • Force in same direction as displacement.
  • \(0^\circ < \theta < 90^\circ\).

What conditions are needed to perform work on an object?

  • Applied force
  • Displacement
  • Force component parallel to displacement

What are the categories of forces in the conservation of energy principle?

  • Conservative forces (Fe):
    • Non-wasteful
  • Non-conservative forces (Fne):
    • Wasteful or external

How does force affect an object's kinetic energy according to the theorem?

  • Work by a force increases object's kinetic energy.
  • Positive work: \( vf > vi \)
  • Negative work: \( vf < vi \)
  • Zero work: velocity constant.

What are the acting forces in the free-body diagram?

  • Forces:
    • Fapplied: Force applied by the man
    • f: Frictional force
    • w: Truck's weight
    • N: Normal force

What is the equation for net work done on the object?

  • \(W{\text{net}} = W{F{\text{applied}}} + Wf + Ww + WN\)

Describe the work done when \(\theta\) is obtuse (> \(90^\circ\)).

  • Work is negative.
  • Force in opposite direction to displacement.
  • \(90^\circ < \theta < 180^\circ\).

What can the work done by a force be?

  • Positive: if force's component is in the direction of displacement
  • Negative: if force's component is opposite
  • Zero: if force is perpendicular

What is a non-conservative force?

  • Not reversible
  • Energy goes to waste
  • Example: friction

What happens to work done by a conservative force?

  • Stored energy retrievable
  • Energy remains unchanged
  • Examples: gravity, elastic potential

What is the unit of kinetic energy?

  • Measured in joules (J).

What is the mass of the truck in tons and kilograms?

  • Mass:
    • 3 tons
    • 3,000 kg

Describe the steps in Method 2 to calculate net force.

  1. Draw parallel force diagram
  2. Calculate net force: \(F{\text{net}} = F{\text{horizontal}} - f\)
  3. Calculate total work: \(W{\text{net}} = F{\text{net}} \Delta x \cos \theta\)

How does the angle affect work?

  • \( \cos 0^\circ \) = 1 (maximum work)
  • \( \cos 90^\circ \) = 0 (no work)
  • \( \cos 180^\circ \) = -1 (negative work)

What is a conservative force according to Definition 1?

  • A conservative force results in zero net work.
  • This occurs when the path begins and ends at the same point.

What happens to energy in non-conservative forces?

  • Not retrievable
  • Energy is lost
  • Example: turns into heat

Describe the work done by non-conservative forces.

  • Energy not retrievable
  • Converted to other forms (e.g., heat)
  • Example: friction

What is the acceleration of the truck?

  • Acceleration:
    • 0.4 m/s²

What forces are considered conservative?

  • Conservative forces include:
    1. Weight (gravitational force)
    2. No energy loss
    3. Path-independent

What is a non-conservative force according to Definition 1?

  • A non-conservative force results in non-zero net work.
  • This occurs when the path starts and ends at the same point.

Describe the work done by gravity along a closed path.

  • Work from B to C is zero
  • Work from D to A is zero
  • Total work is zero

How is work done to lift a container to a height h?

  • Work: \( W = F \times \Delta y \)
  • \( W = mgh \cos 0^\circ = mgh \)
  • Gravity is conservative

What is the equation for net work related to displacement?

  • \( W{\text{net}} = F{\text{net}} \Delta x \cos \theta \)

Over what distance is the truck accelerated?

  • Distance:
    • 5 m

What happens to mechanical energy when non-conservative forces are absent?

  • Mechanical energy is conserved.
  • \(\Delta Em = 0\)
  • \(W{nc} = 0\)

How do non-conservative forces affect work?

  • Non-conservative forces:
    1. Cause path-dependent work
    2. Include friction
    3. Can vary energy between points

What is the work done by friction along a closed path?

  • Path length: Δd
  • Work = -fΔd
  • Total work = -4fΔd

How is a roller coaster used to explain conservative forces?

  • Ignores frictional forces.
  • Cart has same velocity at points with equal height.
  • Kinetic energy is zero over complete loop.

What is required to move a container against friction on a floor?

  • Work equal to \( Wf \)
  • \( F{\text{person}} = F_{\text{person}} \Delta x \cos 180^\circ = -1 \)
  • Friction is non-conservative

What is the kinetic frictional force between the truck's wheels and the road?

  • Kinetic frictional force:
    • 4,000 N

What is power in physics?

  • Power indicates how quickly work is done.
  • It relates work to time.
  • Defined as the rate of work done or energy transferred.

Define the Law of the Conservation of Mechanical Energy.

  • Total mechanical energy \((Em)\) is constant.
  • \((Ep + E_k) \text{ remains constant}\)

What is the work-energy theorem?

  • Total external work change is expressed as:
    1. \( W{c} = \Delta E{k} + \Delta E_{p} \)
    2. Uses both kinetic and potential energy

What happens to a roller coaster cart when frictional forces are ignored?

  • Same velocity at equal height points A and D.
  • Kinetic energy is zero over the entire track.

How does gravity do work on vertical sections of a path?

  • Vertical work is positive
  • From C to D: Varies

How is power expressed in terms of force and velocity?

  • Power \( P \) is calculated with \( P = F \times v{\text{avg}} \)
  • \( F \): Constantly applied force (N)
  • \( v{\text{avg}} \): Average velocity (m/s)

How is power mathematically expressed?

  • Power = Work / Time (P = W / Δt)
  • Power = Energy / Time (P = E / Δt)

How is work done by gravitational force calculated when lifted to a height \(\Delta h\)?

  • Work formula:
    1. \( W{c} = W{g} = mg\Delta{h}\cos180^{\circ} \)
    2. Negative potential energy

What is path dependence for work done by conservative forces?

  • Net work done by conservative force on closed paths is zero.
  • Work depends on start and end points, not path taken.

State the formula for work done by friction in a specific section.

  • Wf = fΔd cos 180°
  • Equals -fΔd

What is average power in watts when a 250 kg piano is lifted at 0.1 m/s\(^-1\)?

  • Use \( P{\text{avg}} = F \times v{\text{avg}} \)
  • \( F = m \times g \)
  • \( P_{\text{avg}} = 245\, \text{W} \)

What is the SI unit for power?

  • Watt (W)
  • 1 watt = 1 joule/second
  • 1 W = 1 J/s

What is the effect of conservative forces on mechanical energy?

  • Mechanical energy conserved.
  • \((Em = Ek + E_p)\) constant

What is the formula for work done by non-conservative forces?

  • \( W{nc} = \Delta E{k} + \Delta E_{p} \)
  • Change in mechanical energy

How do Definitions 2 of conservative and non-conservative forces differ?

  • Conservative: Work depends on start and end point.
  • Non-conservative: Work does not depend on the path.

How is the force required for a cyclist moving at 15 m/s on a straight road calculated?

  • Forward force \( F = \frac{P}{v{\text{avg}}} \)
  • Friction force \( f = F \)
  • \( v{\text{avg}} = 15\, \text{m/s} \)

Why was the concept of horsepower introduced?

  • Historically used by James Watt.
  • To indicate the power of steam engines.
  • Horsepower = 745.7 W

Describe what happens to energy in an isolated system with non-conservative forces.

  • Mechanical energy not constant.
  • Total energy \((Ek, Ep, E_{thermal})\) constant

What is the net work for paths 1 and 2 in the given figure?

  • Net work: Wnet = W1 + W2 = 0.
  • W1 = -W2 in closed path.

Why doesn't constant speed cycling convert chemical energy to kinetic energy?

  • Cyclist moves at constant speed, so net force is zero.
  • Energy conversion supports necessary speed only.

How is a car's power often expressed?

  • Cars' power is often in horsepower.
  • Measures how much work in a given time.

Outline what is meant by mechanical energy not being conserved in real life.

  • External forces cause loss.
  • Leads to Conservation of Energy principle.

What is the relationship between paths 1 and 3 and their work done?

  • Net work: Wnet = W1 + W3 = 0.
  • W3 = -W1.

What information is given about Lerato's motion?

  • Mass: 60 kg
  • Velocity at top: 2 m/s
  • Time to top: 2.5 s

How does path 3 differ in terms of its start and end points?

  • Path 3 is arbitrary.
  • Must start at point B and end at point A.

What is the task for calculating Lerato's power?

  • Calculate power to reach top of stairs.
  • Use work-energy principles.

What details are provided about Thabo's motion?

  • Mass: 80 kg
  • Velocity at top: 1.5 m/s
  • Time to top: 3 s

What needs to be calculated for Thabo?

  • Calculate power to get to the top.
  • Use work-energy principles.

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