Conservation of Energy

Rémi Poirier
Champlain College Saint-Lambert
Table of contents

1. Definition of Energy

2. Work

3. Scalar Product

4. Kinetic Energy

5. Power

6. Calculating Work done

7. Potential Energy

8. Conservation of Energy

9. Loop-the-Loop

1
Definition of Energy
What is Energy

Different forms of Energy

• Energy of motion (kinetic energy)
• Gravitational potential energy
• Elastic potential energy (spring)
• Electric potential energy
• Nuclear potential energy
• Thermal energy
• Mass

Principle of Energy Conservation

Energy is always conserved, it may be transformed but the sum of
all forms of energy remains constant.

2
Energy Approach

boundary
system

flow of energy
in or out of the system

Environment

3
Choosing the System
n

Tension: Internal Force

µk n

mg
External forces:
Gravity
contact force

mg
4
Choosing the System
n

Tension: Internal Force

µk n

mg
External forces:
Gravity
contact force

mg
4
Choosing the System
n

Tension: Internal Force

µk n

mg
External forces:
Gravity
contact force

mg
4
Choosing the System
n

Tension: Internal Force

µk n

mg
External forces:
Gravity
contact force

mg
4
Choosing the System
n

Tension: Internal Force

µk n

mg
External forces:
Gravity
contact force

mg
4
Work
Work

Work is a transfer of energy

amount of energy transferred in or out of a system by a force.
Work can be positive, negative or zero.

W>0
External force transfers energy into the system

W<0
External force transfers energy out of the system

W=0
External force does not transfer energy into or out the system

5
Calculating Work

Work
Work is done when a force (F) acts parallel to a displacement (∆r).

W = F∆r cos θ

F F F

θ
θ ∆r
F cos θ F cos θ

Energy transfered into the system

When the angle θ < 90◦ , the work done is positive.

6
Calculating Work

Work
Work is done when a force (F) acts parallel to a displacement (∆r).

W = F∆r cos θ

F F F

θ
θ ∆r
F cos θ F cos θ

Energy transfered out of the system

When the angle θ > 90◦ , the work done is negative.

6
Calculating Work

Work
Work is done when a force (F) acts parallel to a displacement (∆r).

W = F∆r cos θ

F F F

θ
θ ∆r
F cos θ F cos θ

No energy transfer
When the angle θ = 90◦ , the work done is zero.

6
Forces doing work
n
∆r

µk n

mg
Forces
Force doing
doing
negative
positive
zero
work

∆r

mg
7
Forces doing work
n
∆r

µk n

mg
Forces
Force doing
doing
Going in the same
negative
positive
zero direction
work

∆r

mg
7
Forces doing work
n
∆r

µk n

mg
Forces
Force doing
doing
negative
positive
zero
work

Force going in the ∆r

opposite direction

mg
7
Forces doing work
n
∆r

µk n

mg
Forces
Force doing
doing
negative
positive
zero
work
Force is the same
∆r

mg
7
Scalar Product
Scalar Product

also called ”dot” product

The scalar product between two vectors ⃗A and ⃗B ,
(”A dot B”) gives as a result a scalar number, positive, negative or
zero.
Don't get confused with "x"
here it's "dot"
⃗A · ⃗B = AB cos θ vector * vector= scalar

Where θ is the angle between the two vectors.

8
Scalar Product

scalar product using components

If
⃗A = Ax ı̂ + Ay ȷ̂ + Az k̂

and
⃗B = Bx ı̂ + By ȷ̂ + Bz k̂

then the scalar product is:

⃗A · ⃗B = Ax Bx + Ay By + Az Bz

8
Scalar Product

Finding angle between vectors

The angle between two arbitrary vectors can be found using the
scalar product.
⃗A · ⃗B
cos θ =
AB

8
Kinetic Energy
Kinetic Energy

Energy of motion
An object moving with mass m moving at a speed v, has an energy
of motion called kinetic energy:
1
K = mv2
2

Variation of kinetic energy

Any change in kinetic energy between an initial and final position is
noted:
1 1
∆K = Kf − Ki = mv2f − mv2i
2 2

9
Work-Kinetic Energy Theorem

Total work = change in kinetic energy

Total work done on an object is equal to the change in kinetic
energy of the object.
Wtot = ∆K

10
Throwing a baseball

∆r
⃗F

Force applied in the same direction as displacement:

increase in kinetic energy
11
catching a baseball

The smaller your displacement

the greater the force
∆r
⃗F

∆K will be negative

Force applied in the opposite direction as displacement:

decreases in kinetic energy

12
Power
Power

Power
Power is the amount of work done, divided by the time interval:

W =>Energy transfer
P=
∆t

13
Power

Power
Power is the amount of work done, divided by the time interval:

W ⃗
∆x
P= = ⃗F ·
∆t ∆t

13
Power

Power
Power is the amount of work done, divided by the time interval:

W ⃗
∆x
P= = ⃗F · = ⃗F · ⃗v
∆t ∆t

13
Power

Power
Power is the amount of work done, divided by the time interval:

W ⃗
∆x
P= = ⃗F · = ⃗F · ⃗v
∆t ∆t

Units of power
The S.I. unit of power is the watt (W) equivalent to one joule per
second.
1 W = 1 J/s
Another unit of power is the horsepower equal to 746 watts

1 hp = 746 W

13
Calculating Work done
Work done by Gravity

Work done by gravity: m

⃗ = F∆r cos θ
W = ⃗F · ∆r
mg
W = (−mgȷ̂) · (−hȷ̂) = mgh
work done is positive on the way down h

W = (−mgȷ̂) · (+hȷ̂) = −mgh

work done is negative on the way up
m
work done on a closed path is always zero
gravity is a conservative force
mg
we define potential energy Ug such that:
W ≡ −∆Ug and
∆Ug = mg∆y

14
Work done by Gravity

Work done by gravity: m

⃗ = F∆r cos θ
W = ⃗F · ∆r
mg
W = (−mgȷ̂) · (−hȷ̂) = mgh
work done is positive on the way down h

W = (−mgȷ̂) · (+hȷ̂) = −mgh

work done is negative on the way up
m
work done on a closed path is always zero
gravity is a conservative force
mg
we define potential energy Ug such that:
W ≡ −∆Ug and
∆Ug = mg∆y

14
Work done by Gravity

Work done by gravity: m

⃗ = F∆r cos θ
W = ⃗F · ∆r
mg
W = (−mgȷ̂) · (−hȷ̂) = mgh
work done is positive on the way down h

W = (−mgȷ̂) · (+hȷ̂) = −mgh

work done is negative on the way up
m
work done on a closed path is always zero
gravity is a conservative force
mg
we define potential energy Ug such that:
W ≡ −∆Ug and
∆Ug = mg∆y

14
Work done by Gravity

Work done by gravity: m

⃗ = F∆r cos θ
W = ⃗F · ∆r
mg
W = (−mgȷ̂) · (−hȷ̂) = mgh
work done is positive on the way down h

W = (−mgȷ̂) · (+hȷ̂) = −mgh

work done is negative on the way up
m
work done on a closed path is always zero
gravity is a conservative force
mg
we define potential energy Ug such that:
W ≡ −∆Ug and
∆Ug = mg∆y

14
Work done by a Spring

Work done by a variable force is found using the area under the
curve in a force vs position graph.

15
Work done by a Spring

Work done by a variable force is found using the area under the
curve in a force vs position graph.

The spring force is also a conservative force, we can calculate a

spring potential energy.
15
Work done by Friction

∆r ∆r

µk n µk n

16
Work done by Friction

∆r ∆r

µk n µk n

Work done is negative:

Wfriction = −µk n∆r.

16
Work done by Friction

∆r ∆r

µk n µk n

Work done is also negative:

Wfriction = −µk n∆r.
Work done on a closed path is not equal to zero,
friction is not a conservative force.
There is no ”friction potential energy”.

16
Potential Energy
Potential Energy

Definition
Potential energy is an energy associated with a conservative force.
The potential energy decreases when a conservative force does
positive work.
Wc = −∆U

Gravitational potential energy

∆Ug = mg∆y
∆y considered positive upward. Ug = 0 not defined.

Spring potential energy

1
∆Us = k(x2f − x2i )
2
x = 0 at the natural length of the spring.

17
Conservation of Energy
Conservation of Energy
Conservation of energy
We can write the conservation of energy in a system as:

Wnc = ∆K + ∆U

Wnc
This term includes the work done by all non-conservative forces
such as, friction, contact forces, push or pull from a person.

∆K
This term represent all the kinetic energy change for all the objects
with mass of the system.

∆U
This term represent all the potential energy change in the system,
this includes gravitational potential energy change for all objects
moving vertically, and spring potential energy change if a spring is
18
present in the system.
Problem 1

19
Problem 2

20
Problem 3

21
Loop-the-Loop
Loop-the-Loop

Definition
Loop-the-Loop is a vertical loop or 360 degree turn in a roller
coaster track, derived from a similar aerobatic manoeuvre.
A

22
Two scenarios:

Object attached to the track

• The normal force can either push or pull on the object as
necessary to keep the object moving on the track.
• Object cannot fall off the track

Object not attached to the track

• The normal force can only push on the object, but cannot pull
to hold the object on the track
• Object will lose contact with the track as soon as n = 0.

23
First case: object attached to the track

a) The block released from a height H < 2R,

v T

v=0
H
v=0

H R

24
First case: object attached to the track

a) The block released from a height H < 2R,

will not reach the top of the loop.
A

v T

v=0
H
v=0

H R

24
First case: object attached to the track

b) The block released from a height H = 2R,

v T

v=0
H
v=0

H R

24
First case: object attached to the track

b) The block released from a height H = 2R,

will reach the top of the loop with v = 0.
A

v T

v=0
H
v=0

H R

24
First case: object attached to the track

c) The block released from a height H > 2R,

v T

v=0
H
v=0

H R

24
First case: object attached to the track

c) The block released from a height H > 2R,

will make it around the loop.
A

v T

v=0
H
v=0

H R

24
Second case: object not attached to the track

As soon as the normal force on the block reaches zero,

the block loses contact with the track...
A

mv2
mg =
R
√ v T
v = Rg
v

mg

25
Second case: object not attached to the track

The point where the normal force is lowest is at the top of the loop,
if we set the normal force equal to zero at the top only, we can
calculate how fast the block must go to still make it around...
A

mv2
mg =
R
√ v T
v = Rg
v

mg

25
Second case: object not attached to the track

The point where the normal force is lowest is at the top of the loop,
if we set the normal force equal to zero at the top only, we can
calculate how fast the block must go to still make it around...
A

mv2
mg =
R
√ v T
v = Rg
v

mg

25
Second case: object not attached to the track

The point where the normal force is lowest is at the top of the loop,
if we set the normal force equal to zero at the top only, we can
calculate how fast the block must go to still make it around...
A

mv2
mg =
R
√ v T
v = Rg
v

mg

25
Second case: object not attached to the track

The point where the normal force is lowest is at the top of the loop,
if we set the normal force equal to zero at the top only, we can
calculate how fast the block must go to still make it around...
A

mv2
mg =
R
√ v T
v = Rg
v

mg

25
Loop-the-loop Summary

The condition for the object to make it around the loop depends on
the situation:
Object attached to the track:
Because the object cannot fall off the track, the only condition is to
have enough energy to reach the top of the loop.

Object not attached to the track:

Because the object may fall off the track, the condition is that the
minimal normal force on the object at the top of the loop is zero.
This means it must reach the top of the loop with a speed of at
√
least v = Rg.

26
Problem 4

A 5 g bead slide without friction around a metal wire shaped in a

loop-the-loop. The bead is released from a height H = 3.5R.
a) what is the speed of the bead at point T?
b) How large is the normal force on the bead at T?
A

27
Problem 5

28