RAFFLES INSTITUTION

YEAR 5-6 PHYSICS DEPARTMENT

Tutorial 5 Work, Energy and Power Suggested Solutions

D1 (a) (i) Area under the Fx vs x graph gives work done. Assuming no friction,
work done by force F on the particle is converted to K.E. of the particle
(motion is along x-axis, no change in G.P.E.)
Positive work done by F = Increase in K.E.
K.E. reaches maximum at x = 3.0 m.

(ii) Area (work done) is negative from x = 3.0 to 6.0 m. Energy is removed from
the particle. It slows down to 0 K.E. at x = 6.0 m (when net work done on it
is 0).
(b)
Ek / J

Note:
1. Ek = 0, but gradient is not
zero at x = 0, 6 m
2. Steepest at x = 1, 5 m
3. Maximum at x = 3 m

0 6 x/m

From work-energy theorem, total work done by net force equals to the change in
x
kinetic energy of the object, for this case, ∫
0
Fx dx = Ek . Thus Fx at each x value
is equal to the gradient of the Ek-x graph at that x value.

D2 (a) Elastic P.E. stored in the spring

1 1
( )( )
2
= kx 2 = 2.0 × 103 2.0 × 10 −2 =0.40 J
2 2
(b) Consider motion of block after collision to maximum compression of spring.
By principle of conservation of energy,
decrease in K.E. of block = increase in elastic P.E. stored in spring
1
mv 2 − =
0 0.40 − 0
2
2 × 0.40
=v = 0.894 m s-1
1.0

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 RAFFLES INSTITUTION
YEAR 5-6 PHYSICS DEPARTMENT

(c) By principle of conservation of momentum,

m1u1 + m2u2 =m1v1 + m2v 2
(0.20)u=
1 +0 (0.20)v1 + (1.0)v 2  (1) ( take rightwards as positive direction )
For an elastic collision,
u1 − u2 = v 2 − v1
⇒ u1 − 0 = v 2 − v1
⇒ v1 = v 2 − u1  (2)

Substitute (2) into (1),

(0.20)=
u1 + 0 (0.20)(v 2 − u1 ) + (1.0)v 2
2(0.20)=
u1 (1.0 + 0.20)v 2
(1.0 + 0.20)(0.8944)
u1 =
2(0.20)
≈ 2.68 m s-1
v1= v 2 − u1= 0.8944 − 2.683 ≈ −1.79 m s-1 (i.e. 1.79 m s-1 leftwards)

(d) Consider motion of ball from point of release to just before collision with block.
By the principle of conservation of energy,
increase in K.E. of ball = decrease in G.P.E. of ball
1
∴ mv 2 −= 0 mg ( L − L cos θ ) where L is the length of the string
2
(2.683
2.6832 )
2
v2
⇒ (1 − cos θ =
) =
2 ( 9.81)(1.0 )
2gL 2(9.81)(1.0)
⇒ θ= 50.7°

D3 By principle of conservation of energy, (taking the initial position of the block as the zero
G.P.E.)
initial energy of system = final energy of system
(Elastic P.E. + G.P.E. + K.E.)initial = (Elastic P.E. + G.P.E. + K.E.)final
1 2
kx + 0 + 0= 0 + mgh + 0
2
1
(500)(0.100)2 = 0.250(9.81)h
2
h = 1.019 m
Hence, maximum height above the extended spring is (1.019 – 0.100) m = 0.919 m

D4 Using principle of conservation of energy,

Ep initial + Ek initial = Ep final + Ek final (assume no friction)
1.5gh + 0.5g(1.0) + 0 = 1.5gh + ½ (1.5)v2 + ½ (0.5)v2
v2 = 4.905
Hence max. KE of trolley = ½ (1.5)(4.905) = 3.7 J

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 RAFFLES INSTITUTION
YEAR 5-6 PHYSICS DEPARTMENT

D5 Horizontally: sx = ux t, ux = 5.00/0.500 = 10.0 m s−1

1 1
Vertically: h = uy t + a t2 = (9.81) (0.500)2 = 1.226 m
2 2
Consider motion of boy from the top to the end of the slide.
By the principle of conservation of energy,
mgH = ½ m u2 + mgh,
(60)(9.81)(H) = ½ (60)(10.0)2 + (60)(9.81)(1.226)
H = 6.32 m.

D6 (a) Tension in the tow bar = 2000N.

As the caravan travels at a constant velocity, the resultant force on the caravan is
zero. This is only possible if the tension in the tow bar is equal in magnitude and
opposite in direction to the opposing force on the caravan.
(b) Applying N2L to free-body diagram of the car travelling (a = 0),
Fdriving – 2000 – 1700 = 0
Fdriving = 3700 N
Power of car, P = Fdrivingv = 3700 × 20 = 74000 W = 74 kW

D7 Resistive force on car = driving force = 200 N

Rate of work done against resistive forces = 200 × 20 = 4000 W
Rate of increase of GPE of the car up a gradient = mgh/t
1 
= 800 ( 9.81)  × 20 
8 
= 19620 W
Power needed by car = rate of work done against resistive forces + rate of increase of
GPE = 4000 + 19620 = 23620 W = 23.6 kW

OR N
v = 20 m s-1
F
F = f + W sinθ
= 200 + 800 (9.81) (0.125)
= 1181 N
P = Fv f
θ
= (1181) (20)
= 23620 W = 23.6 kW W

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 RAFFLES INSTITUTION
YEAR 5-6 PHYSICS DEPARTMENT

D8 At constant speed, the power input by the cyclist is equal to the sum of the rate at which
work is done against the resistive force and the rate of increase in gravitational potential
energy:
Power input by cyclist = Power dissipated by resistive force + rate of increase of GPE
Power input = fv + mg ( d sinθ ) t =
fv + mg ( h t ) = fv + mgv sinθ
Power input − fv 0.20 × 103 − 10 × 5.0
=sinθ =
mgv 80 × 9.81× 5.0
θ = 2.2
Notice that the speed has been converted into m s−1.
OR:
Using P = Fv, force exerted by cyclist is F = (0.20 x 103)/(18 x 103 / 3600) = 40 N
Since speed is constant, resultant force on the cyclist and bicycle is zero.
By Newton’s second law,
F – mgsinθ – Fresistive = 0
40 – 80 x 9.81 sinθ – 10 = 0
θ = 2.2o

D9 (a) Total change in G.P.E. in one revolution for 8 buckets

= 8 ( mg ∆h ) = 8(40 x 9.81)( –1.6 x 2) = –1.00 × 104 J (i.e. loss in G.P.E.)

(b) conversion of GPE to KE in one revolution

Average input power =
period
1.00 × 10 4
= = 1.00 × 10 3 = 1.00 kW
 60 
 
 6 

(c) A larger number of small buckets is preferred as this would result in a more
uniform torque throughout the revolution; hence the rotation of the wheel would
be smoother than when a few large buckets is used.

D10 Consider a tubular section of the wind flow

A
wind
x

dm d( ρV ) d( Ax ) dx
Mass of air flowing per second
= = = ρ = ρ A = ρ Av
dt dt dt dt
where x is the length of air column passing through the blades, hence Av is the
volume flow rate, and ρ = density of air
1 dm 2 1 1
Kinetic energy of air flowing per unit
= time =
2 dt
v
2
( ρ Av ) v 2 = ρ Av 3
2
Since overall efficiency is 40%,
1
0.40 × ρAv 3 = 5000 , where A is the circular cross-sectional area of the windmill
2

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 RAFFLES INSTITUTION
YEAR 5-6 PHYSICS DEPARTMENT

1
0.40 × 5000 , where L is the length of the blade
ρπ L2v 3 =
2
5000 2
L= × = 1.57 m
0.40 πρv 3

C1 The work done dW over a small displacement dx is Tcosθ . dx

x
Since cos θ =
1.202 + x 2
1 1
x
W= ∫ T cos θ dx =
3
∫ −25
3 1.202 + x 2
dx

1
−25  1.202 + x 2  =
W = 41.7 J
 3

The change in KE of the cart is 41.7 J

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 RAFFLES INSTITUTION
YEAR 5-6 PHYSICS DEPARTMENT

C2 On a level road, power supplied by car’s engine = rate of work done against friction
P = fv = (kv2)v = kv3
When car is moving up a slope at maximum speed ½ v, power supplied by engine is
given by
P = (f ’ + mg sin θ) v’
  v 2  v 
kv 3  k   + mg sin θ   
=
 2  2 
 
3 kv 3
mgv sin θ
=
kv +
8 2
77
mgvsin
mg θ θ= = kvkv2 3
sin  (1)
44
When car is moving down the same slope with speed λv,
P + (mg sin θ) v’’ = (f ’’)v’’
kv3 + 7/4 kv2(λv) = k(λv)2(λv)
1 + 7/4 λ = λ3
7
λ3 − λ − 1 = 0 (shown)
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