Maggie Clarke’s

Work and Energy Study Guide

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Before we start, here is a definition for work: Work is the energy transferred to or from an object
by means of a force acting on the object. Energy transferred to an object is positive work and
energy transferred from an object is negative work.
Okay, onto Work and Energy. Let’s do some calculus! (Say yay). Quick Note:
We know from Newton’s 2 Law that ⃗
F =m ⃗and
The unit of energy is
ⅆ ⃗v the Joule (J). Joules are
We can rewrite acceleration as dv/dt, so ⃗
F =m a scalar quantity.
ⅆt
Energy is intrinsic to an
ⅆ ⃗v ⅆ ⃗x ⃗ ⅆ ⃗v ⅆ ⃗x
We can then use the chain rule: ⃗
F =m ∙ F =m ∙ object.
ⅆt ⅆ ⃗x ⅆ ⃗x ⅆt
⃗J is impulse. Impulse is
ⅆ ⃗v
Dx/dt is velocity, so I can rewrite it as ⃗
F =m ⃗v a vector quantity.
ⅆ ⃗x
Now bring over dx: ⃗
F ∙ ⅆ ⃗x =m ⃗v ∙ ⅆ ⃗v
x2 vf

Now Integrate: ∫ ⃗
F ∙ ⅆ ⃗x =m∫ ⃗v ∙ ⅆ ⃗v
x1 v0

x2
1
∫ ⃗F ∙ ⅆ ⃗x = 2 m(v 2f −v 2o )
x1

Voila! On the left, an expression for work. On the right, ΔKE (KE= ½ mv2). The above statement
is the Work/Kinetic Energy Theorem. We can see that work is the energy given to or taken from
a system.
x2

How to evaluate ∫ ⃗F ∙ ⅆ x⃗
x1

1. F in terms of i^ , ^j , and k^
Write ⃗
2. Write ⅆ ⃗x in terms of i^ , ^j , and k^
3. Dot the two vectors.
4. Solve the integral.
Something to notice: Forces perpendicular to motion don’t do work. Therefore, Normal Forces
generally don’t do work.
Path Independent Forces: When doing work energy problems, only the starting point and
ending point of the path matter when calculating the integral. An example of a path independent
force is gravity. They are also called conservative forces.
Path Dependent Forces: The path taken by the object is important when doing work energy
problems. Friction is a path dependent force. They are also called nonconservative forces.
Conservation Laws
Remember:
Remember from before, ∑ ⃗
P0=∑ ⃗
Pf
Conservation of
Now, we have Conservation of energy!!! Momentum only
∑ E 0=∑ E f + ΣW n onconservative forces works when there are
no external forces.
Potential Energy
W =−ΔU
This makes sense. As a ball falls, gravity does positive work on the ball. However, the ball loses
potential energy.
You can also use calculus to find a relationship between forces and energy.
x2
−∫ ⃗
F ∙ d ⃗s =∆ U A note about signs.
x1
Work can be positive or
−⃗
F ∙ d ⃗s =dU negative.
⃗ −dU Potential energy can be
F=
d ⃗s positive or negative based on
However scalar/vector doesn’t make sense, so frame of reference.

−dU ^ Kinetic Energy must be

⃗
F= i
dx positive.

Springs
We know from Hooke’s law that ⃗ F spring=-kxi^ . To find the work done by the spring, we do the
x 2

F ∙ d ⃗s =−kxdx. ∫ F
F ∙ d ⃗s d ⃗s is just dxi^ , so ⃗
integral of ⃗ ⃗ ∙ d s⃗ = −k ( x )
0 2

Potential energy is the negative of the work done by a force, so potential energy of a spring is
2
k (x)
2 Watt’s the unit of power.
Power!!!
Power is the time derivative of energy. The unit of power is the Watt.
Let’s grab an intermediary from the work energy theorem.
⃗
F ∙ ⅆ ⃗x =m ⃗v ∙ ⅆ ⃗v
Using a trick we learned in class, we can rewrite this as:

⃗ 1 2
F ∙ ⅆ ⃗x = m v
2
Differentiate both sides with respect to t.

⃗ ⅆ ⃗x ⅆ d −d
F∙ = KE = W = PE= ⃗
F ∙ ⃗v
ⅆt ⅆt dt dt
You can define power as either F dot v or the derivative of energy.
Let’s think about the POWER!!!!! Of gravity.
Before we start, Frame of Reference. Down is positive.
Power is ⃗
F ∙ ⃗v . We already know ⃗
F =mg ^j .
v⃗ is a bit more complicated since acceleration is not zero. We know from kinematics that
v f =v i +a t . Let’s say the object starts at rest. ⃗v =¿ ^j . Dot the two together to get P=mg2t. So even
though acceleration is constant, the power of gravity is still increasing as the ball drops.
But what if you want to know the acceleration of your IBET robot, whose motors provide
constant power?
We know P= ⃗ F ∙ ⃗v . Let’s pretend your IBET robot was fantastic and could actually travel in a
P
straight line to make this problem one dimensional and therefore much easier. P=F ∙ v =F
v

√
t2 v2
P P ⅆv P P 1 2 2 Pt
v
=ma =m
v ⅆt ∫ m
ⅆ t =∫ vdv
m
t= v
2
Solve for v: v=
m
In other
t1 v1
words, your IBET robot probably didn’t accelerate much.
Super Useful trick to deal with elastic collisions
Instead of viewing a collision from the side of the road, you can instead picture the collision
from the center of mass. The center of mass is an inertial reference frame so nothing weird
happens. Furthermore, because there are no external forces, the center of mass will move at a
constant rate throughout the collision.
Before, when solving elastic collision problems, you wrote out the two conservation equations.
Conservation of Momentum: m1 v 1 i+ m2 v 2 i=m1 v 1 f + m2 v 2 f
 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2
Conservation of Energy: m1 v 1i + m 2 v 2 i= m 1 v 1 f + m 2 v 2 f
2 2 2 2
Then you have to solve the system of equations. Unfortunately, this system is not linear, so you
can’t use your linear skillz to quickly solve it. Solving this system takes forever. Luckily, we can
also view an elastic collision from a center of mass perspective.
Here are the steps:
m1 v 1 +m2 v 2
1. Determine the velocity of the center of mass:
m1 +m2
2. Determine the velocity of each mass relative to the center of mass
v 1com =v 1−v c om v 2com =v 2−v c om
3. After the collision, the velocities will reverse.
v 1 fcom =−v 1 com v 2 fcom =−v 2 com
4. Finally, to get the velocities relative to the ground instead of the center of mass, add on
the velocity of the center of mass.
v 1 f =v 1 fcom+ v com v 2 f =v 2 fcom+ v com

Check your notes for why this works. I’m not typing all of that.
Mass Transfer
We know from before that momentum is conserved when the sum of all external forces is zero.
ⅆP
However, if ≠ 0, ∑ ⃗
F e xt ⅆt =ⅆP . Or we could write it as ∑ ⃗
F ext Δt=ΔP
ⅆt
A popular problem in physics is when a continuous stream of matter hits an object which causes
it to move. Mr. Hannum’s example was getting sprayed by a hose. I thought of middle school
PE.
The problem goes like this, you have a mass m moving at velocity v. It is hit by a stream of
particles moving at velocity u which add Δ m mass to mass m and increases the velocity of m by
Δ v . What force do the particles exert on m? Do this in one dimension, so no vectors.
So we know that F ext Δt =Pf −Pi.

Write out mv for both P’s. F e xt Δt =( m+ Δm ) ( v + Δ v )−(mv+ Δ mu)

Factor and cancel. F e xt Δt =Δ mv +m Δ v + Δ m Δ v− Δ mu

F e xt Δt =Δm(v−u)+m Δv + Δ m Δ v

F e xt Δt =m Δ v− Δ m(u−v )+ Δ m Δ v . Notice the relative velocity u-v.

Δv Δm Δm
Divide both sides by Δ t : Fe xt=m − (u−v )+ Δv
Δt Δ t Δt
Then set Δ t , Δ m, and Δ v to zero.
ⅆm ⅆm
F e xt =ma− (u−v )+ ∙ 0 Get rid of the last term because it equals zero.
ⅆt dt
ⅆm
Bring dm/dt (u-v) to the left: F e xt + ( u−v )=ma . Wow that looks like Newton’s 2nd Law!
ⅆt
ⅆm
You can also write this equation as: F e xt + ( v )=ma
ⅆt rel
This equation is also known as the Rocket Equation or the Mass Transfer Equation. Dm/dt vrel is
also known as thrust.
You can get a large thrust through either:
 Large dm/dt. Ejecting a large amount of mass.
 Large vrel. Ejecting mass at high speeds.