2 WORK, ENERGY AND POWER

Work, Energy and its Conservation

Topic-1 Concepts covered: Work, Energy (Potential and Kinetic)
Conservation of Energy

Revision Notes
� Energy is the capacity of a body to do work. Its S.I. unit is joule.
¾¾When a non-zero force (F) is applied on an object, it displaces by (d) by making an angle (q) with the direction of
force. Then work done mathematically, is defined as.
W = Fd cos q
¾¾Work is said to be done only when force applied on a body makes the body move. S.I. unit of work is joule.
¾¾Work is equal to force multiplied by displacement in the direction of force.
¾¾Work can be positive, negative or zero.
¾¾If the angle between force and the displacement is acute, then work is said to be positive.
¾¾If the angle between force and the displacement is 90° i.e., displacement is perpendicular to the force applied,
work is said to be zero.
¾¾If the angle between force and the displacement is obtuse, the work is said to be negative.
¾¾When a coolie walks horizontally while carrying a load on his head, no work is done against the force of gravity.
¾¾When a body rotates in a circular path, no work is done against the centripetal force, as force and displacement
are normal to each other.
¾¾Work done can be zero if :
(i) force applied is zero i.e., no force acts on the body.
(ii) displacement of body is zero.
(iii) angle between force and displacement is 90°.
¾¾C.G.S. unit of energy or work is erg.
¾¾One joule of work is said to be done when a force of 1 Newton displaces a body through a distance of 1 metre in
its own direction.
¾¾1 erg of work is said to be done when a force of 1 dyne displaces a body through a distance 1 cm in its own
direction.
¾¾One kilowatt hour (1 kWh) is the energy spent (or work done ) by a source of power 1 kW in 1 hour.
¾¾Mechanical energy is of two types i.e.,
1
(i) Kinetic energy = mv
2
2
(ii) Potential energy = mgh
¾¾Kinetic energy is the energy possessed by a body by virtue of its motion. Examples include a moving train, a
running boy, etc.
¾¾Types of kinetic energy :
(i) Translation kinetic energy (e.g.,→ a car moving in straight path, a freely falling body posses translational kinetic
energy)
(ii) Rotational kinetic energy (e.g.,→ a spinning top, a rotating fan posses rotational kinetic energy)
(iii) Vibrational kinetic energy (e.g.,→ a wire clamped at both the ends when struck in the middle vibrates,
possessing vibrational kinetic energy)
¾¾Potential energy is the energy possessed by a body by virtue of its position or configuration.
¾¾Potential energy is of two types :
(i) Elastic potential energy
(ii) Gravitational potential energy
 ¾¾According to the law of conservation of energy, energy can neither be created nor be destroyed but it can be
changed from one form to another.
¾¾According to the work-energy theorem, the work done by a force on a moving body is equal to increase in its
kinetic energy.
¾¾Derivation of expression of potential energy, U = mgh
Let a body of mass ‘m’ be lifted upwards to a height ‘h’ above the ground.
Then, work done on the body against the force of gravity = force × displacement
Force, F = mg
Work done, W = mg × h
This work done will be stored in the body in form of potential energy, U = mgh
1
¾¾Derivation of expression of Kinetic energy, K = mv2
2
A body of mass ‘m’ moving with initial velocity ‘v’ is acted upon by a constant opposing force ‘F’ which produces
retardation and the body is brought to rest.
Force, F = mass × retardation … (i)
Using 2nd kinematic equation of motion, v2 = u2 + 2as …. (ii)
Where, initial velocity, u=v
Final velocity, v=0
Acceleration, a=–a
So, the equation (ii) becomes
02 = v2 + 2 × (–a) × s
v2
s=  … (iii)
2a
Kinetic energy will be equal to the amount of work the body does before coming to rest.
Kinetic energy = F × s
v2
= ma × [Using equation (i) and (iii)]
2a
1 2
K = mv
2
¾¾Law of conservation of energy :
In a closed system, i.e., a system that is isolated from its surroundings, the total energy of the system is conserved.
So, the energy cannot be created or destroyed but may be changed from one form to another.

Mnemonics

Concepts: Positive, Negative and Zero work done. N : Ninety

Mnemonics : Appu Planned On a Day to visit Z : Zero
New Zealand. When angle between the force and displacement is
Interpretation : acute, the work done is positive.
A : Acute When angle between the force and displacement is
P : Positive obtuse, the work done is negative.
O : Obtuse When angle between the force and displacement is
N : Negative ninety degree, the work done is zero.

Key Equations
¾¾Work = Force × displacement (in the direction of force) Work energy theorem :
¾¾Work = Fscos θ 1
¾¾Kinetic energy = mv2
¾¾Gravitational potential energy, P = mgh 2
or, Work done by the force of gravity = mgh ¾¾1 joule = 107 ergs
 ¾¾1 watt hour = 3600 J = 3.6 kJ and K = Kinetic energy
¾¾1 kilowatt hour = 3.6 × 106 J Work-energy theorem :
¾¾1 calorie = 4.186 joules 1 1
W= mv2 – mu2
¾¾1 eV = 1.6 × 10-19 J 2 2
¾¾p2 = 2 mK ¾¾where, v = final velocity
Where, p = Momentum and u = initial velocity

Power and Sources of Energy

Topic-2 Concepts covered: Power, Sources of energy, Conversion of energy
from one form to another

Revision Notes
¾¾Power is the rate of doing work. Its S.I. unit is Watt.
¾¾1 Watt = 1 Js-1
¾¾If one Joule of work is done in 1 second, the power spent is said to be 1 Watt.
¾¾1 horse power = 746 Watts = 0.746 kW
¾¾1 kW = 1000 W, 1 MW = 106 W and 1 GW = 109 W
¾¾The C.G.S unit of power is erg per second.
¾¾1 Watt = 1 J s-1 = 107 erg s-1
¾¾Solar energy is the energy radiated by the Sun.
¾¾Solar panels, solar furnaces and solar cells use solar energy to do useful work.
¾¾The energy released on burning coal, oil, wood or gas is the heat energy.
¾¾Light is also a form of energy. We can see objects in presence of light only.
¾¾The energy contained in fossil fuels such as coal, petroleum and natural gas is called chemical energy.
¾¾The energy possessed by the fast moving water is called the hydro energy. It is used to generate electricity.
¾¾The energy released due to loss in mass during nuclear reaction is called nuclear energy.
¾¾The heat energy stored in the core of Earth is called geothermal energy.
¾¾The energy possessed by the fast-moving air is called wind energy. Windmills use this energy to produce
electricity.
¾¾Sound energy is possessed by vibrating bodies.
¾¾A natural source providing us energy continuously is called a renewable or non-conventional source of energy.
¾¾Examples of renewable source of energy are solar energy, wind energy, energy from flowing water, energy from
biomass, ocean thermal energy, geothermal energy, etc.
¾¾The sources of energy which have accumulated in nature over a very long period and cannot be quickly replaced
when exhausted are called non-renewable sources of energy or conventional sources of energy.
¾¾Examples of non-renewable sources of energy are coal, petroleum and natural gas.

Key Equations

Work done W
¾¾Power = =
Timetaken t
Energy spent
used E
¾¾Power = =
Time taken t
¾¾Power = Force × Velocity = F × v

Mnemonics
Concept : Energy Sources: N : Non
Mnemonics : Champak arrived Nasik via Rajkot. R : Renewable
Nitin Chopra received him. N : Non
Interpretation : C : Conventional Energy Sources
C : Conventional Energy Sources R : Renewable

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