LESSON 6

BOOK CHAPTER 7
(Kinetic energy and Work)
BOOK CHAPTER 7

(Kinetic energy and

Work)
 Kinetic Energy:
Kinetic energy K is energy associated with the state of motion of an object.
The faster the object moves, the greater is its kinetic energy. When the object
is stationary, its kinetic energy is zero.

For an object of mass m whose speed v is well below the speed of light,
1
𝐾 = 𝑚𝑣 2
2
The SI unit of kinetic energy (and all types of energy) is the joule (J), named
for James Prescott Joule, an English scientist of the 1800s and defined as
1joule = 1 J = 1kg. 𝑚2 /s 2
 Work:
Work W is energy transferred to or from an object via a force acting on the
object. Energy transferred to the object is positive work, and from the object,
negative work.
𝑭 𝑭
The work done on a particle by a constant
force 𝐹Ԧ during displacement 𝑑Ԧ is 𝝓 𝝓

𝑾 = 𝑭. 𝒅 = 𝑭𝒅 𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝝓
𝒅
Where 𝜙 is constant angle between the directions of 𝑭 and 𝒅. This is positive
work, because 𝝓 < 𝟗𝟎𝟎
𝑭 𝑭 𝑭
𝝓 𝑭 𝝓
𝝓 𝝓

𝒅
Work is Negative, 𝒅
The force does no work on the object,
because 𝟗𝟎𝟎 < 𝝓 because 𝝓 = 𝟗𝟎𝟎
The principle of work-kinetic energy theorem:

For a particle, a change ∆𝐾 in the kinetic energy equals the net work W done
on the particle:
∆𝑲 = 𝑲𝒇 − 𝑲𝒊 = 𝑾
This is known as work-kinetic energy theorem, in which 𝐾𝑖 is the initial kinetic
energy of the particle and 𝐾𝑓 is the kinetic energy after the work is done.

1 𝑗𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑒 = newton 1 meter = 1N. m = 0.738 ft. lb

The SI unit of work is joule, the same as kinetic energy. The corresponding unit
in the British system is the foot-pound (ft.lb). 1joule is equivalent to
 Finding an Expression for Work-Kinetic energy:

Considering a bead that can slide along a

frictionless wire that is stretched along a horizontal x
axis.
Ԧ directed at an angle 𝜙 to the
A constant force 𝐹,
wire, accelerates the bead along the wire.
Using Newton’s law we can write,
𝐹𝑥 = 𝑚𝑎𝑥 ………….. (1)

𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑚 𝑖𝑠 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑏𝑒𝑎𝑑 and 𝑎𝑥 𝑖𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑎𝑐𝑐𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑎𝑙𝑜𝑛𝑔 𝑥 − 𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑠.

 Using the equation for motion with constant acceleration, we can write
𝑣 2 = 𝑣02 + 2𝑎𝑥 𝑑
𝑣 2 − 𝑣02 = 2𝑎𝑥 𝑑
𝑣 2 − 𝑣02
𝑎𝑥 = ………….. (2)
2𝑑
Substituting the value of 𝑎𝑥 in equation (1) we can write,

𝑣 2 − 𝑣02
𝐹𝑥 = 𝑚
2𝑑
1 1
𝐹𝑥 𝑑 = 𝑚𝑣 2 − 𝑚𝑣02
2 2
𝑊 = 𝐾𝑓 − 𝐾𝑖

1 1
in which 𝐾𝑖 = 𝑚𝑣02 is the initial kinetic energy of the particle and 𝐾𝑓 = 𝑚𝑣 2 is
2 2
the kinetic energy after the work, 𝑊 = 𝐹𝑥 𝑑 is done.
Work Done by the Gravitational Force:
We know that the work done on a particle
by a constant force 𝐹Ԧ during displacement
𝑑Ԧ is
𝑾 = 𝑭. 𝒅 = 𝑭𝒅 𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝝓
Accordingly, the work 𝑊𝑔 done by the
gravitational force 𝐹Ԧ𝑔 on a object
(particle/body) of mass m as the object
moves through a displacement 𝑑Ԧ is given
by
𝑊𝑔 = 𝐹𝑔 𝑑 cos 𝜙
Ԧ
Where 𝜙 is the angle between 𝐹Ԧ𝑔 and 𝑑.
❑ For rising an object: Force 𝐹Ԧ𝑔 is directed opposite the displacement 𝑑Ԧ (as
shown in the adjacent figure). Hence, 𝑊𝑔 becomes

𝑊𝑔 = 𝐹𝑔 𝑑 cos 1800 = 𝑚𝑔𝑑 −1 = −𝑚𝑔𝑑

• For lowering an object: Force 𝐹Ԧ𝑔
is directed along the
displacement 𝑑Ԧ (as shown in the
adjacent figure). Hence,
𝑊𝑔 becomes

𝑊𝑔 = 𝐹𝑔 𝑑 cos 00
= 𝑚𝑔𝑑 +1 = 𝑚𝑔𝑑
The Spring Force:
The force 𝐹Ԧ𝑠 from a spring is
proportional to the displacement 𝑑Ԧ of
the free end from its position when
the spring is in its relaxed state
(neither compressed nor extended).
The spring force 𝐹Ԧ𝑠 is given by
𝑭𝒔 = −𝒌𝒅
which is known as Hooke’s law after Robert Hooke, an English scientist of the late
1600s. The minus sign indicates that the direction of the spring force is always opposite
the direction of the displacement of the spring’s free end. The constant k is called the
spring constant (or force constant) and is a measure of the stiffness of the spring.
❑ The larger k is, the stiffer the spring;
that is, the larger k is, the stronger the
spring’s pull or push for a given
displacement.
❑ The SI unit for k is the newton per meter

If an x axis lies along the spring, with the origin at the location of the spring’s
free end when the spring is in its relaxed state, we can write
𝐹𝑥 = −𝑘𝑥
The Work Done by a Spring Force:

The net work 𝑊𝑠 done by the spring (from 𝑥𝑖 to 𝑥𝑓 ) is

𝑥𝑓 𝑥𝑓
𝑊𝑠 = න 𝐹𝑥 𝑑𝑥 = න −𝑘𝑥 𝑑𝑥 [Where 𝐹𝑥 = 𝑘𝑥 ]
𝑥𝑖 𝑥𝑖
𝑥𝑓
𝑊𝑠 = −𝑘 න 𝑥 𝑑𝑥
𝑥𝑖
𝑥=𝑥𝑓
𝑥2 1
𝑊𝑠 = −𝑘 = − 𝑘 𝑥𝑓2 − 𝑥𝑖2
2 𝑥=𝑥𝑖
2

1 2 1 2
𝑊𝑠 = − 𝑘𝑥𝑓 + 𝑘𝑥𝑖
2 2
If 𝑥𝑖 = 0 and if we assume that 𝑥𝑓 = 𝑥, the above equation becomes

𝟏
𝑾𝒔 = − 𝒌𝒙𝟐
𝟐
Problem 1 (Book chapter 7)
A proton (mass 𝑚 = 1.67 × 10−27 𝑘𝑔) is being accelerated along a straight line
at 3.6 × 1015 𝑚/𝑠 2 in a machine. If the proton has an initial speed of 2.4 ×
107 𝑚/𝑠 and travels 3.5 cm, what then is (a) its speed and (b) the increase in
its kinetic energy?
Answer: Here, initial speed, 𝑣𝑖 = 2.4 × 107 𝑚/𝑠 and the distance traveled
by the proton, 𝑠 = 3.5 𝑐𝑚 = 0.035 𝑚 and We assume final speed
is 𝑣𝑓 .

(a) We use the formula, 𝑣𝑓2 = 𝑣𝑖2 + 2𝑎𝑠 = 2.4 × 107 2 + 2 3.6 × 1015 0.035

𝑚2
𝑣𝑓2 = 5.76 × 1014 + 2.52 × 1014 = 8.28 × 1014
𝑠2
𝒗𝒇 = 𝟐. 𝟖𝟖 × 𝟏𝟎𝟕 𝒎/𝒔
(b) The change (increase) in kinetic energy,
1
∆𝐾 = 𝐾𝑓 − 𝐾𝑖 = 𝑚 𝑣𝑓2 − 𝑣𝑖2
2
1.67 × 10−27
∆𝐾 = 2.88 × 107 2
− 2.4 × 107 2
2
 1.67 × 10−27
∆𝐾 = 8.29 × 1014 − 5.76 × 1014
2

1.67 × 10−27 × 2.53 × 1014 4.23 × 10−13

∆𝐾 = =
2 2

∆𝑲 = 𝟐. 𝟏𝟏𝟓 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟏𝟑 𝑱
Problem 9 (Book chapter 7)
The only force acting on a 2.0 kg canister that is moving in an x-y plane has a
magnitude of 5.0 N. The canister initially has a velocity of 4.0 m/s in the
positive x direction and some time later has a velocity of 6.0 m/s in the
positive y direction. How much work is done on the canister by the 5.0 N
force during this time?
Answer: We use the formula for work-kinetic energy theorem, which is

1
𝑊 = ∆𝐾 = 𝐾𝑓 − 𝐾𝑖 = 𝑚 𝑣𝑓2 − 𝑣𝑖2
2
In the above formula, speed is required; whatever the directions.

Given

2 𝑚 = 2 𝑘𝑔
𝑊= 62 − 42 = 36 − 16 = 20 J
2 𝑣𝑖 = 4 𝑚/𝑠

𝑾 = 𝟐𝟎 J 𝑣𝑓 = 6 𝑚/𝑠

𝑊 =?
Problem 11 (Book chapter 7)
A 12.0 N force with a fixed orientation does work on a particle as the particle
moves through the three-dimensional displacement 𝑑Ԧ = 2𝑖Ƹ − 4𝑗Ƹ + 3𝑘෠ 𝑚 .
What is the angle between the force and the displacement if the change in the
particle's kinetic energy is (a) +30.0 J and (b) - 30.0 J?
Answer: Here, we use the work-kinetic energy relation, which is

∆𝑲 = 𝑾 = 𝑭. 𝒅 = 𝑭𝒅 𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝝓
Ԧ
Where 𝜙 is the angle between force 𝐹Ԧ and displacement 𝑑.
(a) ∆𝐾 = 𝐹𝑑 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜙 Given
Δ𝐾 Δ𝐾 = +30 𝐽 for (a)
cos 𝜙 = Δ𝐾 = −30 𝐽 for (b)
𝐹𝑑
Δ𝐾 30 𝐹 = 12 𝑁
𝜙 = cos−1 = cos −1 = cos−1 0.464
𝐹𝑑 (12)(5.385) 𝑑Ԧ = 2𝑖Ƹ − 4𝑗Ƹ + 3𝑘෠ m

𝝓 = 𝟔𝟐. 𝟑𝟓𝟎 𝑑= (2)2 +(−4)2 +(3)2

𝑑 = 5.385 𝑚
 (b) For Δ𝐾 = −30 𝐽

−1
Δ𝐾 −1
−30
𝜙 = cos = cos = cos −1 −0.464
𝐹𝑑 (12)(5.385)

𝝓 = 𝟏𝟏𝟕. 𝟔𝟓𝟎

Sample Problem 7.06 (page 161) Home work

In the Figure below, a cumin canister of mass 𝑚 = 0.40 𝑘𝑔 slides across a
horizontal frictionless counter with speed v = 0.50 m/s. It then runs into and
compresses a spring of spring constant k = 750 N/m. When the canister is
momentarily stopped by the spring, by what distance d is the spring
compressed?

Hints: use the formula for work

done by Spring.

1 2
𝑊 = 𝐾𝑓 − 𝐾𝑖 = − 𝑘𝑑
2
 1. [ Chap 7 - problem 2]: If a Saturn V rocket with an Apollo
spacecraft attached had a combined mass of 2.9 X 105 kg
and reached a speed of 11.2 km/s, how much kinetic energy
would it then have?
2. [Chap 7 - problem 8]: A ice block floating in a river is pushed
through a displacement 𝑑Ԧ = 15 𝑚 𝑖Ƹ − 12 𝑚 𝑗Ƹ along a
straight embankment by rushing water, which exerts a force
𝐹Ԧ = 210 𝑁 𝑖Ƹ − 150 𝑁 𝑗Ƹ on the block. How much work does
the force do on the block during the displacement?

Let’s 3. [Chap 7 - problem 10]: A coin slides over a frictionless plane

and across an xy coordinate system from the origin to a point

try……. with xy coordinates (3.0 m, 4.0 m) while a constant force acts

on it. The force has magnitude 2.0 N and is directed at a
counterclockwise angle of 1000 from the positive direction of
the x axis. How much work is done by the force on the coin
during the displacement?
4. [ Chap 7 - problem 41]: A single force acts on a 3.0 kg
particle-like object whose position is given by 𝑥 = 3.0 𝑡 −
4.0 𝑡 2 + 1.0 𝑡 3 , with x in meters and t in seconds. Find the
work done by the force from t = 0 to t = 4.0 s.
Thank You