PHYSICS 149: Lecture 15

• Chapter 6: Conservation of Energy

– 6.3 Kinetic Energy

– 6.4 Gravitational Potential Energy

Lecture 15 Purdue University, Physics 149 1

 ILQ 1
Mimas orbits Saturn at a distance D. Enceladus
orbits Saturn at a distance 4D
4D. What is the ratio of
the periods of their orbits?

A) Tm/Te = 1/8 T2 ∝ r 3
B) Tm/Te = 1/4
2
⎛ Tm ⎞ ⎛ D ⎞
3

⎜ ⎟ =⎜ ⎟
⎝ E⎠
T ⎝ 4 D ⎠
C) Tm/Te = 1/2
⎛ Tm ⎞ 1 1
= =
D) Tm/Te = 2 ⎜ ⎟
⎝ TE ⎠ 64 8

Lecture 15 Purdue University, Physics 149 2

 ILQ 2
A pendulum bob swings back and forth along a circular
path. Does the tension in the string do any work on the
bob? Does gravity do work on the bob?
A) only tension does work
B) both do work
C) neither do work
D) only gravity does work

Lecture 15 Purdue University, Physics 149 3

 Energy
• Energy is “conserved” meaning it can not be created nor
destroyed
– Can change form
– Can be transferred

• Total Energy of an isolated system does not change with

time
• Forms
– Kinetic Energy Motion
– Potential Energy Stored
– Heat
– Mass (E=mc2)

• Units: Joules = kg m2 / s2

Lecture 15 Purdue University, Physics 149 4

 Definition of “Work” in Physics

• Work is a scalar quantity (not a vector quantity).

• Units: J (Joule), N⋅m, kg⋅m2/s2, etc. .
– Unit conversion: 1 J = 1 N⋅m
N m = 1 kg⋅m
kg m2/s2
• Work is denoted by W (not to be confused by weight W).
Lecture 15 Purdue University, Physics 149 5
 Total Work

• When several forces act on an object

object, the “total”
total
work is the sum of the work done by each force
individually:

Lecture 15 Purdue University, Physics 149 6

 ILQ 1
You are towing a car up a hill with constant velocity.
The work done on the car by the normal force is:
A) positive
B) negative
C) zero FN V

Normal force is perpendicular to direction of W

di l
displacement,
t so workk iis zero.

Lecture 15 Purdue University, Physics 149 7

 ILQ 2
You are towing a car up a hill with constant velocity.
The work done on the car by the gravitational force is:
A) positive
B) negative
C) zero FN V

Gravity is pushing against the direction of W

motion
ti so it iis negative.
ti

Lecture 15 Purdue University, Physics 149 8

 ILQ 3
You are towing a car up a hill with constant velocity.
The work done on the car by the tension force is:
A) positive
B) negative
C) zero FN V

The force of tension is in the same direction as W

th motion
the ti of f the
th car, making
ki the
th workk positive.
iti

Lecture 15 Purdue University, Physics 149 9

 ILQ 4
You are towing a car up a hill with constant velocity.
The total work done on the car by all forces is:
A) positive
B) negative
C) zero FN V

The total work done is positive because the car is

moving up the hill. (Not quite!) W
W=KEf-KEi=(0.5mvf2) - (0.5mvi2). Because the final
and initial velocities are the same, there is no
change in kinetic energy, and therefore no total
work
k iis d
done.

Lecture 15 Purdue University, Physics 149 10

 Problem
A box is pulled up a rough (μ > 0) incline by a rope-
pulley-weight arrangement as shown below. How
many forces are doing (non-zero) work on the box?

A) 0 B) 1 C) 2 D) 3 E) 4

Lecture 15 Purdue University, Physics 149 11

 Solution
Draw FBD of box: N
v
T
z Consider direction of
motion of the box
z Any force not perpendicular
to the motion will do work:
f
N does no work (perp. to v)
T does positive work
3 fforces mg
f does negative work
do work
mg does negative work

Lecture 15 Purdue University, Physics 149 12

 Example: Block with Friction
• A block is sliding on a surface with an initial speed of 5 m/s. If the
coefficient of kinetic friction between the block and table is 0.4, how
far does the block travel before stopping?
y
N
yy-direction:
direction: F
F=ma
ma f x
N-mg = 0
N = mg mg

Work W=ΔK
WN = 0 -μmg Δx = ½ m (vf2 – v02)
Wmg = 0 μg Δx = ½ (0 – v02)
-μg
Wf = f Δx cos(180) μg Δx = ½ v02
= -μmg Δx Δx = ½ v02 / μg
5 m/s = 3.1
3 1 meters

Lecture 15 Purdue University, Physics 149 13

 Kinetic Energy: Motion
• Apply constant force along x-direction to a
point particle m.
W = Fx Δx
= m ax Δx 1 2 2
recall : ax Δx = (vx − vx 0 )
= ½ m (vf2 – v02) 2

• Work changes ½ m v2

• Define Kinetic Energy K = ½ m v2 Work-Kinetic

W k Ki ti
Energy
W=ΔK For Point Particles
Th
Theorem
Lecture 15 Purdue University, Physics 149 14
 Translational Kinetic Energy
• When an object of mass m is moving with speed v (the
g
magnitude of instantaneous velocity),
y), the object’s
j
“translational kinetic energy” is defined as follows:

• Kinetic energy is a scalar quantity.

• Units: J, N
N⋅m,
m, kg
kg⋅m2/s2,
m2/s2, etc.
• Kinetic energy is denoted by K.
• Translational kinetic energy means the total work done on
the object to accelerate it to that speed starting from rest.
• Translational kinetic energy is often called the “kinetic
energy” if it is clearly distinguished from the rotational
energy
energy or internal energy.
Lecture 15 Purdue University, Physics 149 15
 Work - Kinetic Energy Theorem

1 2 1 2
= K f − Ki = mv f − mvi
2 2

• The work done on an object by the “net” force

(whether the net force is constant or variable) is
equal to the change in the kinetic energy.

• Or, the “total” work done on the object is equal to

the change in the kinetic energy
energy.

Lecture 15 Purdue University, Physics 149 16

 ILQ
Compare the kinetic energy of two balls:
Ball 1: mass m thrown with speed 2v
Ball 2: mass 2m thrown with speed v

A) K1 = 4K2
B) K1 = K2
C) 2K1 = K2
D) K1 = 2K2

Lecture 15 Purdue University, Physics 149 17

 Work Done by Gravity 1

• Example
p 1: Drop
p ball

Wg = (mg)(s)cosθ Yi = h

s=h
S
Wg = mghcos(00) = mgh mg
y
Δy = yf-y
yi = -h
h Yf = 0
x
Wg = -mgΔy

Lecture 15 Purdue University, Physics 149 18

 Work Done by Gravity 2

• Example
p 2: Toss ball up
p

Wg = (mg)(s)cosθ Yi = h

s=h
S
Wg = mghcos(1800) = -mgh mg
y

Δy = yf-y
yi = +h
h Yf = 0
x
Wg = -mgΔy

Lecture 15 Purdue University, Physics 149 19

 Work Done by Gravity 3

• Example
p 3: Slide block down incline

Wg = (mg)(s)cosθ
s = h/cosθ
Wg = mg(h/cosθ)cosθ h θ
mg S
Wg = mgh
Δy = yf-yi = -h
Wg = -mgΔy
mgΔy

Lecture 15 Purdue University, Physics 149 20

 Work Done by Gravity
• Depends only on initial and final height!
• Wg = -mg(y
mg(yf - yi) = -mgΔy
mgΔy
– Independent of path
– If you end up where you began
began, Wg = 0
– Note: can do work “against” gravity, then get gravity to
do work back.
– Define: Potential Energy……

We call this a “Conservative Force” because we can

define a “Potential
Potential Energy
Energy” to go with it
it.

Lecture 15 Purdue University, Physics 149 21

 Work Done by Gravity
• Question: Does the work done by gravity depend on the path taken?

θ
mg Δr

Left Case: Wgrav = F⋅Δr⋅cosθ = mg⋅|Δy|⋅cos0° = mg|Δy|

Middle Case: Wgrav = F⋅Δr⋅cosθ = mg|Δy| (because Δr⋅cosθ = |Δy|)
Right Case: Wgrav = mg|Δy| (because each segment can be
treated like the middle case)
• Answer: The work done by gravity is independent of path–that is, the
work depends only on the initial and final positions (|Δy|)
(|Δy|).
• This kind of force is called “conservative force.”
Lecture 15 Purdue University, Physics 149 22
 Potential (stored) Energy
• “Stored” gravitational energy can be converted to
kinetic energy
ƒ -m g Δy = ΔK
ƒ 0 = ΔK + m g Δyy define Ug = mgy
gy
ƒ 0 = ΔK + ΔUg
W = ΔK ΔU = -WC
• Works for any CONSERVATIVE force
ƒ Gravity Ug = m g y
ƒ Spring Us = 1/2 k x2
ƒ NOT friction

Lecture 15 Purdue University, Physics 149 23

 Potential

Only change in potential energy is important

Lecture 15 Purdue University, Physics 149 24
 What is Potential Energy?
• An object is thrown up vertically, and it reaches top.
Assume no air resistance.
The work done by gravity (near the surface of Earth) is
Wgrav = F⋅Δ
Δr⋅cosθ = mg⋅ΔΔy⋅cos180° = –mg mgΔy vf=0

In this problem, gravity is the only force. Thus,

Wtotal mgΔy
t t l = Wgrav = –mg
According to work-energy theorem,
Wtotal = –mgΔy = –½mvi2 (because ½mvf2=0)
vi
That is, the initial kinetic energy (Ki = ½mvi2) has been
“stored” in (or transformed into) the form of mgΔy at the
top. And, it has the “potential” to do work (or to become
kinetic energy).
• Stored energy due to the interaction of an object with
something else (in this case, gravity) that can easily
be recovered as kinetic energy is called potential
energy.
Lecture 15 Purdue University, Physics 149 25
 Definition of Potential Energy
• The change in potential energy is equal to the negative of
the work done by the conservative forces.

– Potential energy can be defined only for the conservative forces

forces.
For the non-conservative forces, potential energy can not be
defined in the first place.
– There is no way y to calculate the absolute value of the p
potential
energy. Only the change in potential energy is important.
– The choice of the zero point of potential energy is arbitrary.

• Potential energy is a scalar quantity.

• Units: J, N⋅m, kg⋅m2/s2, etc.
• Potential energy is denoted by U (so ΔU means the
change in potential energy).
Lecture 15 Purdue University, Physics 149 26
 ILQ
A hiker descends from the South Rim of the
Grand Canyon to the Colorado River
River. During this
hike, the work done by gravity on the hiker is

A) positive and depends on the path taken

B) positive and independent of the path taken
C) negative and depends on the path taken
D) negative and independent of the path taken
E) zero W g = Fg ( Δy ) cos θ =
mgh cos(0) = mgh
Lecture 15 Purdue University, Physics 149 27
 Work and Potential Energy
• Work done by gravity independent of path
– Wg = -mg
g (yf - yi)

• Define Ug = mgy

• Works for any CONSERVATIVE force

• Modify Work-Energy theorem

∑Wnc = ΔK + ΔU

Lecture 15 Purdue University, Physics 149 28

 Conservative Force
• If the work done by a force is independent of
path (that is, depends only on the initial and final
positions),
iti ) th
the fforce iis called
ll d ““conservative.”
ti ”
– Example: gravitational force, spring force, and
electrical force
– Note that the work done by conservative forces for
any closed loop is zero.
• If the work done by a force depends on the path
taken, the force is called non-conservative.
– Example: frictional force and air resistance

Lecture 15 Purdue University, Physics 149 29

Work - Energy with Conservative Forces
Work Energy Theorem
∑Wi = ΔK ΔU = -WC ΣW = Wcons + Wnc = ΔK
Move work by conservative forces to other side
∑Wnc = ΔK + ΔU W n c = Δ K − W co n s

If there are NO non-conservative forces

0 = ΔK + ΔU = ΔEmech
Ei = E f
0 = K f − Ki + U f − U i
Conservation of
Ki + U i = K f + U f
mechanical energy
Lecture 15 Purdue University, Physics 149 30
 Mechanical Energy
• The sum of the kinetic and potential energies is
called the (total) mechanical energy (Emechh).
)

Emech ≡ K + U

• Mechanical energy is a scalar quantity.

• Units: JJ, N⋅m
N⋅m, kg⋅m2/s2, etc.
etc
• Mechanical energy is denoted by Emech.

Lecture 15 Purdue University, Physics 149 31

 Conservation of Mechanical Energy
• If the work is done by only conservative forces (this is, the
work done byy non-conservative forces is zero), ), the
mechanical energy is conserved.
Emech = Ki + Ui = Kf + Uf = const (if Wnc = 0)

• If the work is done by also non-conservative forces, the

mechanical energy is not conserved and the following
relations are satisfied.
or

Lecture 15 Purdue University, Physics 149 32

 Falling Ball Example
• Ball falls a distance of 5 meters. What is
its final speed?

Emech = Ki + Ui = Kf + Uf = const (b/c Wnc = 0)

Only force/work done be gravity

Ui = mgyi
Uf = 0
Ki = 0
Wg = m ½ (vf2 – vi2)
Kf = ½mvf2
mg
½ vf2
Fg h = ½m
mgh = ½m vf2
Vf = sqrt( 2 g h ) = 10 m/s
Lecture 15 Purdue University, Physics 149 33
 Example: Pendulum

Vi = 0

mg
• In this case, there are two forces acting on the object.
• But, the direction of tension is perpendicular to the displacement of the
object, so the work done by tension is zero.
• Gravity (conservative force) is the only force which does work
work, so the
mechanical energy is conserved.

Emech = Ki + Ui = Kf + Uf = const (b/c Wnc = 0)

Ui = mgh
Uf = 0
Ki = 0
Kf = ½mvf2
Æ 0 + mgh = ½mvf2 + 0
Thus, vf = sqrt(2gh) Å the same result as two previous results
Lecture 15 Purdue University, Physics 149 34
 ILQ
Imagine that you are comparing three different ways of having
a ball move down through the same height.
In which case does the ball get to the bottom first?

A) Dropping
B) Slide on ramp (no friction)
C) Swinging down
D) All the same correct
A B C

The
h time
t m to g
gett to the
th bottom
ottom iss height
h ght / y-component
y compon nt of velocity
oc ty

Lecture 15 Purdue University, Physics 149 35

 ILQ
Imagine that you are comparing three different ways of having
a ball move down through the same height.
In which case does the ball reach the bottom with the highest
speed?

A)) Dropping
pp g
B) Slide on ramp (no friction)
C) Swinging down
D) All the same correct A B C

Conservation of Energy (Wnc=0)

Kinitial + Uinitial = Kfinal + Ufinal
0 + mgh = ½ m v2final + 0
vfinal = sqrt(2 g h)
Lecture 15 Purdue University, Physics 149 36
 Pendulum ILQ
• As the pendulum falls, the work done by the string is
A) Positive B) Zero C) Negative

W = F d cos θ. But θ = 90 degrees so Work is zero.

• How fast is the ball moving at the bottom of the path?

Conservation of Energy (Wnc=0)

ΣWnc = ΔK + Δ U
0 = Kfinal - Kinitial + Ufinal - Uinitial
Kinitial + Uinitial = Kfinal + Ufinal
0 + mgh = ½ m v2final + 0
h
vfinal = sqrt(2 g h)

Lecture 15 Purdue University, Physics 149 37

 Pendulum Demo
A pendulum is released from a height h above the
minimum. At the bottom of its swing, the string hits a
peg, reducing the length. What is the final height y
the ball reaches?

A)) h < y B)) h = y C)) h > y

Lecture 15 Purdue University, Physics 149 38

 Galileo’s Pendulum
How high will the pendulum swing on the other side now?

A) h1 > h2 B) h1 = h2 C) h1 < h2

Conservation of Energy (Wnc=0)

ΣWnc = ΔK + Δ U
Kinitial + Uinitial = Kfinal + Ufinal
0 + mgh1 = 0 + mgh2
h1 = h2
m

h1 h2

Lecture 15 Purdue University, Physics 149 39

 Gravitational Potential Energy
• If the gravitational force is not constant or nearly constant,
we have to start from Newton’s law

m1m2
F =G 2
r
• The gravitational potential energy is:

m1m2
U = −G
r
if U = 0 for r = ∞

Lecture 15 Purdue University, Physics 149 40