Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
November 4, 2014
3AC01
WORK
Work results when a force acts upon an object to cause a displacement (or a motion) or, in
some instances, to hinder a motion. Three variables are of importance in this definition - force,
displacement, and the extent to which the force causes or hinders the displacement. Each of these
three variables find their way into the equation for work. That equation is:
Work = Force Displacement Cosine(theta)
W = F d cos(theta)
Since the standard metric unit of force is the Newton and the standard metric unit of
displacement is the meter, then the standard metric unit of work is a Newtonmeter, defined as a
Joule and abbreviated with a J.
The most complicated part of the work equation and work calculations is the meaning of
the angle theta in the above equation. The angle is not just any stated angle in the problem; it is
the angle between the F and the d vectors. In solving work problems, one must always be aware
of this definition - theta is the angle between the force and the displacement which it causes. If
the force is in the same direction as the displacement, then the angle is 0 degrees. If the force is
in the opposite direction as the displacement, then the angle is 180 degrees. If the force is up and
the displacement is to the right, then the angle is 90 degrees. This is summarized in the graphic
below.
"The WORK done on an object, is the product of the average force on it and the distance
travelled in the direction of the force."
Notice: the work is done on an object, like a lump of wood during wood stacking, by something
which exerts a force (you on the wood). This force must then proceed to move it through a
distance in its direction.
The unit of work in the modern system is the joule J. (Very old units include the calorie, BTU
and the erg.)
POWER
Power is defined as the rate at which work is done upon an object. Like all rate quantities,
power is a time-based quantity. Power is related to how fast a job is done. Two identical jobs or
tasks can be done at different rates - one slowly or and one rapidly. The work is the same in each
case (since they are identical jobs) but the power is different. The equation for power shows the
importance of time:
Power = Work / time
P=W/t
The unit for standard metric work is the Joule and the standard metric unit for time is the
second, so the standard metric unit for power is a Joule / second, defined as a Watt and
abbreviated W. Special attention should be taken so as not to confuse the unit Watt, abbreviated
W, with the quantity work, also abbreviated by the letter W.
Combining the equations for power and work can lead to a second equation for power.
Power is W/t and work is Fdcos(theta). Substituting the expression for work into the power
equation yields P = Fdcos(theta)/t. If this equation is re-written as
P = F cos(theta) (d/t)
one notices a simplification which could be made. The d/t ratio is the speed value for a constant
speed motion or the average speed for an accelerated motion. Thus, the equation can be rewritten as
P = F v cos(theta)
where v is the constant speed or the average speed value. A few of the problems in this set of
problems will utilize this derived equation for power.
A powerful person is capable of doing the same work as a less powerful person in a shorter time.
The unit of power is the watt, W which is the Js-1.
Example:
If Poatina generates 500 MW at 90% efficiency from a head of water 1000m above the generator,
how much water is needed each second ?
Solution:
The water clearly loses Grav Pot Energy so that this is the energy change we need.
P = Work done = energy
t
t
500 x 106 = mgh = m . 9.8 . 1000
t
t
thus, m / t = 5.1 x 104 kg s-1 = 51 tonnes s-1
But the station is only 90% efficient, so the required amount of water is
= 51 x 100 / 90 = 56.7 tonnes s-1
ENERGY
ENERGY is the ABILITY of an object to do work for whatever reason.
This again sounds like common sense, but stored energy in whatever form has the same units as
work and can do, numerically, that amount of work.
Energy comes in various forms:
Heat - both the heat associated with water and the radiation heat associated with the
warm sunlight.
Motion - a ball thrown hard onto your flesh certainly exerts a force into your skin
through a distance. This particular energy is easy to measure and is called kinetic energy.
"Hidden" energies called potential energies- A spring in a set mouse trap has one such
energy, as has an old tree limb waiting to fall down on someone's head.
When all the forms of energy before and after any process are added we find exactly the same
number.
In falling through a height "h" which is in the same direction as the force, the work done by
gravity is
work done = (force)(dist) = Mgh
thus,
(Grav.)(Pot. Energy )(Ep) = Mgh
This is a stored energy available to be converted into movement energy on release. The Hydro
uses this energy in the form of stored water which is released, converts first to kinetic energy
then to electrical energy which is distributed around the State.
KINETIC ENERGY:
Energys available because of the object's motion.
Consider a mass, m, which is moving with a speed, v, and does work which brings it to rest.
The unbalanced force, F, which it exerts in doing the work is, by Newton's Third Law also
exerted on it , bringing it to a halt.
Funbal = ma
so, Work done = Funbal . dist = mas
(We are assuming all of this takes place in a straight line so that distance and displacement are
essentially the same)
Using 2as = v2 - vo2
we get: mas = 1/2 .mv2 = Work done
Ek = Kinetic energy = 1/2 mv2
Examples:
1. A swing oscillates through a height of 3m. How fast is the little girl going at the bottom of
the swing?
Solution:
This movement is not in a straight line so we must rely on conservation of energy to see how
fast the girl is going. We must assume that no energy is turned into heat or other less easily
calculated forms.
In swinging, the energy changes from Gravity, Potential Energy to Kinetic Energy. So,
Ep lost = Ek gained (cons of energy)
mgh lost = 1/2 .mv2 gained
thus, gh = 1/2 v2 (as the mass is common)
9.8 . 3 = 0.5 v2
v2 = 58.7
v = 7.65 ms-1
2. A 4 kg stone is thrown from the top of a hill which is 20m high. It is thrown at 30 ms-1 at
angle such that its maximum height reached is 15m.
a) How fast is it travelling at the top?
b) How fast is travelling when it reaches the bottom?
Solution:
a.
We could do this problem by the conventional projectile motion but because it only
involves energy changes, that is a far simpler method.
The total energy of the stone at the start of the journey is composed of Kinetic Energy if
we start by ignoring that it is above the sea.
Total Energy at start = Ek
= 1/2 mv2
= 0.5 . 4 . 900 = 1800 J
When it rises, 15m it loses kinetic energy but gains pot energy.
Ep gained = mgh' = 4 . 9.8 . 15 = 588 J
At the top we have a mixture of energies = starting energy
thus 1800 = 588 + new Ek
new Ek = 1800 - 588 = 1212 J = 1/2 m(vnew)2
thus vnew = 24.6 ms-1 = speed at the top.
b. At the bottom of the cliff, it has lost additional Ep which is converted into Ek
Additional Ek = mgh" = 4 . 9.8 . 20 = 784 J
new total energy is now = 1800 + 784 = 2584 J
In every such operation, however, we usually lose some energy in undesirable forms,
usually heat generated by friction or some such process.
Heat is not easily turned back into "useful" forms of energy. All of a car's petrol energy
eventually turns into heat; much of in the first place out of the exhaust system, some into
warming the surrounding air through drag, some in warming the oil in the various parts through
friction and lastly in the brakes through friction.
Energy efficient buses try to avoid the latter loss by using some form of energy storage
device for example a gyro ( storing kinetic energy ) or electrical generators for converting the
vehicle's kinetic energy back to electrical energy.
Ironically, in our houses, we generate heat in stoves, hot water tanks and heaters from the
Gravitational Pot. Energy of the stored water was better insulation lessens the loss of such energy
to the outside. Many other techniques exist for decreasing a home's reliance on Hydro energy.
We pay, of course, for the Hydro energy we use. The electrical companies use a variant of the
joule called a kilowatt-hour.
Most of our food energy is used to generate heat. This provides the conditions for our
body cells to flourish in. Spare energy from this is available for doing our day-to-day activities
and any leftover goes into stored chemical energy called fat.