1. Part 6: Work, Energy, and Power
Forces and Dynamics
Part 6: Work, Energy, and Power

2. Energy Energy is the ability of an object to do work.
Measured in Joules (J)
Types of Energy Include:
Mechanical-energy of movement and position
Chemical-energy stored in chemical bonds of molecules
Thermal-heat energy stored in materials at a certain temperature
Nuclear-energy produced from the splitting of atoms
Radiant-energy traveling in the form of electromagnetic waves
Electric-energy traveling as the flow of charged particles (ex-electrons)

3. Work Work is done when a task produces a change in energy.
Factors affecting work include:
The application of a force
The movement of the object by that force over a distance
Work= Force x Distance (W=Fd)
Units: Joule (J)
Note that work requires a distance!
Example: How much work is required to lift a 2 kg object 2 m high?

4. Power Power is how much work is performed over a period of time.
Power=Work/Time (P=W/t)
Units: Watts (W)
1 W = 1 J/s
Power can also be converted to units of horsepower (hp)
1 hp is approximately equivalent to 750 W
Example: If Superman, at 90 kg, jumps over a 40 m building in a single bound, how much work does Superman perform?
If this occurs in 3s, what is his power output?

5. Work, Energy, and Power
The amount of work done by an object does not depend on the path taken.
Work depends only on the object’s starting and ending points.
As work is done on an object, the object itself gains the opportunity to do work.
Mechanical Energy is the energy of movement and position.
There are two types of mechanical energy:
Potential Energy: Energy of position
Kinetic Energy: Energy of motion

6. Potential Energy
Gravitational Potential Energy is the potential due to elevated positions.
PE=mass x gravity x height (PE=mgh)
Recall that weight = mass x gravity
Therefore, PE = weight x height

7. Kinetic Energy Objects in motion are capable of doing work.
Kinetic Energy= ½ mass x velocity2 (KE=½mv2)
Note: The velocity of the object is squared when determining the kinetic energy. This means that if the velocity of the object is doubled, the kinetic energy is quadrupled.

8. Energy Conservation
Energy is constantly transforming, but never “disappears”.
The Law of Conservation of Energy states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only changed from one form to another.
Potential and Kinetic energy are constantly transforming back and forth.
Most of the time during this transformation, some energy is turned to heat and transferred out of the system.

9. Examples
Jill has a velocity of 5 m/s. If she has a mass of 60 kg, what is her kinetic energy?
If Bob, at 70 kg, is standing on top of a 13 m high hill, what is his potential energy?

10. Work-Energy Theorem
The change in gravitational potential energy of an object is equal to the amount of work needed to change its height.
Therefore, Work=ΔPE
Fd=mgh
The Kinetic Energy of a moving object is equal to the work the object is capable of doing while being brought to rest.
Therefore, W=ΔKE
Fd= ½mv2
Putting these two ideas together gives the general Work-Energy Theorem.
If no change in energy occurs, then no work is done. Therefore, whenever work is done, there is a change in energy.