I am NGAYINTERANYA Janvier Physics Teacher

In this video we are going to discuss about:

Conservation of Mechanical Energy in Isolated System
Though this unit we are going to discuss about:
 Isolated, closed and open systems

 Mechanical Energy

 Kinds of potential energy

 Conversion of potential energy into kinetic energy

 The U-tube Manometer case

 Simple pressure related applications

 End Unit Assessment

Key unit competence
At the end of this unit, the learner should be able
to apply the principle of conservation of
mechanical energy for isolated system.
Isolated, closed and open systems
An isolated system can not allow exchange of
energy (as heat or work) or matter with the
surroundings.
A closed system can allow exchange of energy (as
heat or work) but not matter, with its
surroundings. While an open system can exchange
energy and matter with its surroundings.
According to the work-energy theorem if an external force acts upon a
rigid object, causing its kinetic energy to change from Ek1 to Ek2,
then the
mechanical work (W) is given by:
W = ΔK = – =
Where m is the mass of the object and v is the object’s velocity and Δ is
the change in Kinetic energy. It can be stated in words:
The net work done on an object is equal to the change in its kinetic
energy.
Worked Example : A 145g baseball is thrown with a
speed of 25m/s.
(a) What is its kinetic energy?
(b) How much work was done on the ball to make it
reach this speed, if it started from rest?
Solution
a) The kinetic energy is EK = m = 45j
b) Since the initial kinetic energy was zero, the net work done
is just equal to final kinetic energy, 45J.
Potential energy may be defined as the energy possessed by
object or body when it is lifted up or it’s energy of an object
due to its position.
Potential Energy Formula is given by
P. E = m × g × h
where m is mass, h is height and g acceleration due to gravity.
Worked example6
A ball of mass 2kg is kept on the hill of height 3km. Calculate
the potential energy possessed by the ball.
Solution
m=2kg P.E=? P.E=m.g.h P.E= 2kg x
9.8N/kgx3000m
H=3km=3000m = 58,860J
g= 9.81N/kg
 Kinds of potential energy

a) Chemical potential energy

Physical and mental Activities such as; studying, playing
football, riding a bicycle, make us use energy provided by
the food we eat. Petrol contains also energy which makes
the cars or motorcycles to move. Food and petrol contain
energy called chemical potential energy.
b) Elastic potential energy
When the bands are not stretched there is no potential
energy in them. The potential
energy contained in a stretched rubber band is called
elastic potential energy: PE elastic = where k is called the
elastic constant and x is the stretched distance.

This Simulation help us to understand this: https://

phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/masses-and
Springs/latest/masses-and-springs_en.html
c) Gravitational potential energy
An object raised to a height has energy due to
the position it is at. An object raised to a higher
level has more gravitational potential energy. The
gravitational potential energy of a mass m, at a
height h, is: PE = mgh.
 Conversion of potential energy into
kinetic energy
It has the potential to be converted into other forms of energy such as
kinetic energy and to do work in the process. PE = mgh (h is the
height of the body from reference point). When no other form of
energy is created or lost in motion of a body, then from the law of
Conservation of energy we can say that the Potential energy of a body
converts to Kinetic Energy.
This Simulation help us to perform this experiment:
https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/energy-skate-park/latest/energy-
skate-park_en.html
Mechanical energy
When potential energy decreases at exactly the same rate, it implies the increases in
kinetic energy. This is the conservation of energy.
Law of conservation of energy
This law states that: “in all energy conversions or
transformations, energy
is neither created nor destroyed, but it may be converted
from one form
The law of conservation of energy can also be stated as follows: “during
transformation of energy from one form to another, the total
amount of
energy is unchanged i.e. the amount of the new form which appears
is
equal to the amount of the old form which disappeared”.
In all physical processes taking place in closed systems, the amount
of change in kinetic energy is equal to the amount of change in
potential energy. If the kinetic energy increases, the potential
energy
decreases, and vice-versa.
When we consider open systems it is possible for energy to be added to the
system or taken from the system. In this case the following rule applies:
The total energy of a system (kinetic plus potential) increases by
the amount of work done on the system, and decreases by the
amount of work the system does.
In the physical sciences, mechanical energy is the sum of potential
energy and kinetic energy. ME = KE + PE
It is the energy associated with the motion and position of an object. The
principle of conservation of mechanical energy states that in an isolated
system that is only subject to conservative forces, the mechanical energy is
constant.
Worked example: A 10kg object falls from a height of
12m. Fill in the potential, kinetic and total energy of the
object at the given points.
END UNIT ASSESSMENT
1. What do you understand by: (3Marks)
a. an open system
b. a closed system and
c. an isolated system
2. Identify the interchange of energy between potential and kinetic
energy for a swinging pendulum bob. (3Marks)
3.
4. (a) Explain why, when a stone is thrown upwards it rises and then
falls to the ground again. What are the transformation of energies
occur, when it fall down? (5marks)
(b) A student of mass 60kg runs with a velocity of 2m/s. Calculate
the kinetic energy. (1mark)
5. (a) Define the following terms:
i. Potential energy (1mark)
ii. Kinetic energy (1mark)
(b) A car of mass 1000kg runs at a speed of 20m/s. Calculate the
kinetic energy of the car. (2marks)

Good Luck!!