ENGINEERING SCIENCE H1

OUTCOME 2 - TUTORIAL 2

ENERGY

EDEXCEL HNC/D ENGINEERING SCIENCE LEVEL 4 H1

FORMERLY UNIT 21718P

Students following the mechanical course will find this material is basically revision
of work on basic dynamics from national level. Students who have not done basic
mechanical dynamics might find it useful to study the modules on basic dynamics on
the web site.

You should judge your progress by completing the self assessment exercises.

These may be sent for marking or you may request copies of the solutions at a cost
(see home page).

On completion of this tutorial you should be able to do the following.

Revise basic relationships for Work, Power, Energy and

Conservation.

Explain the different forms of Mechanical Energy.

Potential (gravitational)

Kinetic (Linear and Angular)

Strain

Solve problems involving the interchange of mechanical energy.

Solve problems involving impact loading.

It is assumed that students doing this tutorial already understand BASIC

DYNAMICS including velocity, acceleration, inertia, moment of inertia,
momentum and angular motion.
1. REVISION OF BASICS WORK, ENERGY, POWER and CONSERVATION

Section 1 is a brief revision of basic concepts with which the student should already be familiar. If
you are already familiar with this you should move on to section 2.

WORK

When a force F moves a distance x, the work done W is W=Fx

In order to do work, you must use an equal amount of energy and since energy cannot be destroyed,
it must have been transferred somewhere else (Law of conservation of energy). For example if a
mass is raised on a pulley, work is done and the energy of the mass increases as it is lifted. The
energy used cannot have been destroyed so it must be stored in the mass as an increase in its
potential (gravitational) energy.

Another example is a truck being accelerated along a floor. A force is needed to accelerate the truck
and as it moves more and more work is done. The energy used to accelerate the mass becomes
stored in it as kinetic energy.

Figure 1

Both the examples show that energy may be transferred to a mass by doing work. It follows that
ENERGY IS STORED WORK

POWER

Mechanical power P is the work done per second when a force F moves a distance x in timet.
P = W/t = F x/t
Since x/t is the velocity v of the force then we have a definition for mechanical power of P = F v
In calculus form P = F dx/dt and P is the instantaneous power and dx/dt the instantaneous rate of
change of distance. This formula may be applied to things like pulley belts and chain drives where F
is the force in the belt or chain and v is the velocity of the belt or chain.

POWER TRANSMITTED BY A SHAFT

When a shaft rotates and transmits mechanical power, a torque T must exist to overcome the
resistance to motion. The power transmitted is given by the formula:

P = 2NT where N is the shaft speed in rev/s.

This formula may be expressed as P= T where is the shaft speed in radian/s.

If the torque is produced by a chain or belt acting at radius R then T = F R

Test your basic understanding by completing these problems.

SELF ASSESSMENT EXERCISE No.1

1. A force of 80 N is used to pull a truck 200 m along a horizontal floor. Determine the work done
and the increase in K.E. (16 kJ)

2. If the force in a rope is 500 N and it is pulled a distance of 0.6 m, determine the work done and
the change in P.E. of the mass. (300 kJ)

3. 5 000 J of energy is used up in 20 seconds. What is the power? (250 W)

4. A vehicle is propelled 25 km by a force of 2 kN in 12 seconds. Calculate the work done and the
power used. (50 MJ and 2.08 MW)

5. A load is raised by a pulley. The force in the rope is 40 N and it moves 3 m in 11 seconds.
Calculate the mechanical power. (10.91 W)

6. A rocket flies at 120 m/s under a propulsion force of 3 000 N. Calculate the power used.
(360 kW)

9. A block of mass 500 kg is raised at a constant rate by a hoist at a rate of 0.15 m/s. Calculate the
force in the rope and hence the power used. (4905 N and 735.8 W)

10. A sprocket is driven by a chain with a force of 80 N in it. The sprocket is 80 mm diameter and
rotates at 500 rev/min. Calculate the torque power transmitted. (3.2 Nm and 167.6 W)

11 The force in a pulley belt is 80 N on the tight side and 30 N on the slack side.
The wheel is 100 mm diameter and rotates at 1200 rev/min. Calculate the net torque power
transmitted. (2.5 Nm and 314 W)
2. ENERGY FORMS

A mass may possess several forms of energy. We are only concerned with mechanical energy so the
energy due to temperature is not covered here.

2.1. GRAVITATIONAL or POTENTIAL ENERGY

In order to raise a mass m kg a height z metres, a lifting

force is required which must be at least equal to the
weight mg.

The work done raising the mass is as always, force x

distance moved so
Work = mgz
Figure 2
Since energy has been used to do this work and energy cannot be destroyed, it follows that the
energy must be stored in the mass and we call this gravitational energy or potential energy P.E.
There are many examples showing how this energy may be got back, e.g. a hydro-electric power
station.
P.E. = mgz
(Note z is the SI symbol for altitude but many other symbols are used for height such as h)

2.2 LINEAR KINETIC ENERGY

When a mass m kg is accelerated at

a m/s2 from rest to a velocity of
v m/s, a force F is needed to
accelerate it.
This is given by Newton's 2nd Law
of Motion F= m a.

After time t seconds the mass

travels x metres and reaches a
velocity v m/s. The laws relating
these quantities are
a = v/t and x = vt/2 Figure 3
Figure 3
The work done is W = Fx = max = mv2/2

Energy has been used to do this work and this must be stored in the mass and carried along with it.
This is KINETIC ENERGY.
K.E. = mv2/2

2.3 ANGULAR KINETIC ENERGY

Rotating objects also have kinetic energy. Consider a simple wheel

rotating about its centre. Every particle in the wheel m has a velocity
v along a circular path at a radius r.
The kinetic energy of the particle is m v2/2
The linear velocity is linked to the angular velocity by v = r so the
kinetic energy of the particle is m (r)v2/2
If we sum the energy of all the particles in the wheel then the total K.E. is:
m 2 r 2
K.E. = Figure 4
2
By definition m r2 is the moment of inertia I so the K.E.of any rotating body is K.E. = I2/2
2.4 STRAIN ENERGY

When an elastic body such as a spring is deformed, work is done. The energy used up is stored in
the body as strain energy and it may be regained by allowing the body to relax. The best example of
this is a clockwork device which stores strain energy and then gives it up.

Springs take many forms. Any elastic material may be stretched, compressed, twisted, sheared or
bent. In all cases work is done to deform the material so strain energy is stored in it. Strain energy is
usually given the symbol U. Consider the two simple cases shown below of linear springs that obey
Hookes law.
F=kx
k is the stiffness in N/m and x is the deflection in m. If we start from zero and gradually increase the
force to Fmax, the F x graph produced is a straight line with a gradient k. The work done is the area
under the graph.
W = F x/2 so U = F x/2

F and x are the final or maximum values. If we substitute F = kx then U = kx2/2

Figure 5
The same basic theory applies to torsional springs. Consider a shaft being twisted an angle radian
by application of torque T Nm. If T is gradually increased from zero to a maximum, we find again
that the relationship between T and is directly proportional and we get a straight line graph with a
gradient kt and this is the torsional stiffness in Nm/radian.

Figure 6

The work done is W=T/2

The straijn energy is U =T/2 = kt2/2

The following is probably more than needed for Engineering Science but gives an insight to how
this work may be developed for more advanced applications.

A solid material will deform elastically and the stiffness may be determined from the studies of
material properties and the theory is used in statics to determine the deflection of structures. Here
are some examples with no further explanation. (look in the tutorial on strain energy for the full
theory)

DEFORMATION BY STRETCHING

Figure 7
U = (2/2E ) x volume of the bar

DEFORMATION DUE TO TORSION (Same case as figure 6)

U = (2/4G) x volume of the bar. ( is the maximum shear stress on the surface)

DEFORMATION DUE TO BENDING (BEAMS)

1
2EI
U= M 2 dx
3. ENERGY TRANSFORMATION IN MECHANICAL SYSTEMS

Many mechanical systems involve the exchange of energy from one form to another. We should
always consider the Law of Conservation of Energy and remember if energy is not transferred with
100% efficiency then energy is lost as other unspecified forms such as heat and sound. Friction
always produces a loss of energy. Lets start with simple cases that you should already know.

3.1 FALLING BODY

Suppose a ball of mass M kg is allowed to

fall from rest to the ground a distance z
metres below. The body will accelerate
down under the action of gravity and just
before it hits the ground the ball it will have
a velocity v m/s. The velocity is simply
solved by considering the energy changes.

Figure 8

The ball initially has potential energy Mg z and just before it hits the ground it has kinetic energy
Mv2/2. If no energy is lost then we may say the PE lost = KE gained so equating :

Mgz = Mv2/2 v = 2gz Note that the result is the same what ever the mass.

WORKED EXAMPLE No. 1

Calculate the velocity of ball just before it hits the ground when dropped from a height of 6 m.

SOLUTION

v = 2gz = 2 x 9.81x 6 = 10.85 m/s

3.2 FALLING AND ROLLING

Consider a cylindrical body that starts at

rest at the top of a ramp and then rolls
down hill without slipping or sliding. As
it rolls down the ramp it will roll and
obtain both linear and angular kinetic
energy so if energy is conserved the
potential energy is converted into both.
Figure 9
PE Lost = M g z Figure 9
KE gained = mv2/2 + I2/2
Suppose the radius of the roller is R. The linear velocity v = R (you might like to think about this
and realise that the velocity of any wheel is the same as the velocity of any point on the surface of
the wheel).
Mv 2 I 2
Mgz = + 2Mgz = Mv 2 + I 2 Substitute = v/R
2 2
Iv 2 I
2Mgz = Mv 2 + 2 = v 2 M + 2 Rearrange to make v2 the subject.
R R
2Mgz 2gz
v2 = = Note that I = Mk2 where k is the radius of gyration.
I I
M + 2 1+
R MR 2
2gz 2gz
v2 = 2
= The angular velocity may be found from = v/R
Mk k2
1+ 1+ 2
MR 2 R

WORKED EXAMPLE No. 2

A wheel of mass 2 kg and outer radius 0.4 m rolls down a slope starting from rest. The moment
of inertia is 0.7 kg m2. Calculate the linear and angular velocity if it rolls down the slope without
slipping and descends a height of 1.5 m. Check the answer by comparing the energy before and
after.

SOLUTION
2gz 2g x 1.5
v2 = = = 9.23 v = 9.23 = 3.04 m/s
I 0.7
1+ 1+
MR 2 2 x 0.4 2

=v/R = 3.04/0.4 = 7.6 rad/s

P.E. Lost = Mgz = 2 x 9.81 x 1.5 = 29.43 J

KE gained = Mv2/2 + I2/2 = 2 x 3.042/2 + 0.7 x 7.62/2 = 29.43 J

3.3 FALLING AND SPINNING.

Consider a cylindrical body attached by a cord to a fixed point.

The cord is wrapped around an axle of radius R. If the body falls,
the cylinder spins and so it achieves linear and angular velocities.
The problem is essentially the same as the previous but R is the
radius of the axle, not the radius of the cylinder.
2gz
v2 = Figure 10
k2
1+ 2
R

WORKED EXAMPLE No. 3

A wheel of mass 3 kg and outer radius 0.5 m has an axle 40 mm diameter. A cord is wrapped
around the axle and attached to a frame. The cord makes it spin as it falls. Calculate the linear
and angular velocity when if falls 4 m. The inertia of the axle may be ignored. Check the answer
by comparing the energy before and after.

SOLUTION

In this case we must first calculate the moment of inertia I using the formula for I = MR2
I = 3 x 0.52/2 = 0.375 kg m2. Remember r = radius of the axle in the next formula (0.02 m)
2gz 2g x 4
v2 = = = 0.25 v = 0.25 = 0.5 m/s
I 0.375
1+ 1+
Mr 2 3 x 0.02 2
= v/R = 0.5/0.4 = 25 rad/s
P.E. Lost = Mgz = 3 x 9.81 x 4 = 117.72 J
KE gained = Mv2/2 + I2/2 = 3 x 0.52/2 + 0.375 x 252/2 = 117.72 J

SELF ASSESSMENT EXERCISE No. 2

1. A wheel of mass 0.8 kg and outer radius 0.2 m has an axle 10 mm diameter. A cord is wrapped
around the axle and attached to a frame. The cord makes it spin as it falls. Calculate the linear
and angular velocity when if falls 1 m. The inertia of the axle may be ignored. Check the answer
by comparing the energy before and after. (1.476 m/s, 29.53 rad/s and 7.85 J)

2. A drum is made to revolve about its centre by a falling mass as shown. Calculate the velocity of
the falling mass and rotating drum when the mass descends 10 m with no frictional losses.
(13 m/s and 65.3 rad/s)

Figure 11
4 APPLICATION TO IMPACT LOADS

Consider a mass M that is dropped a height z onto a spring

of stiffness k as shown. When the mass hits the spring, the
spring will deflect a distance x before the mass stops
moving down.

At the moment the spring is compressed to its maximum

the force in the spring is F and the strain energy is
U = kx2/2
The potential energy given up by the falling mass is
P.E. = Mg(z + x)

SIMPLIFIED SOLUTION

If x is small compared to the distance z then we may say

P.E. = Mgz

Figure 12
Equating the energy lost to the strain energy gained we have

2Mgz
Mgz = kx2/2 Hence x=
k

EXACT SOLUTION

Equating P.E and Strain energy we have

Mg{z + x) = kx2/2
Rearrange into a quadratic equation
kx2 - 2Mgx 2Mgz = 0

Solving with the quadratic equation we find

2Mg m (2Mg )2 +(8kMgz )
x=
2k
There are two solutions and without explanation we take the result as
2Mg + (2Mg )2 +(8kMgz )
x=
2k
SUDDENLY APPLIED LOADS

A suddenly applied load occurs when z = 0. This is not the same as a static load. Putting z = 0
yields the result:
2Mg + (2Mg )2 2Mg
x= =
2k k

The static deflection of the spring when the mass just rests on it is xs = Weight/k = Mg/k from
which it follows that x = 2 xs

The deflection is double that of the static load.

It also follows that the instantaneous force in the spring is double the static weight.

This theory also applies to loads dropped on beams.

WORKED EXAMPLE No. 3

A mass of 1600 kg rolls onto the end of a simple cantilever bridge as shown. When the mass
rests on the end of the cantilever, the deflection is 50 mm. What is the maximum deflection
when the ball first rolls onto the end?

Figure 13

SOLUTION

This is a suddenly applied load so the deflection is twice the static deflection and is 100 mm.

WORKED EXAMPLE No. 4

A mass of 5 kg is slides on a rod suspended from a spring as shown. The spring stiffness is
4000 N/m. Calculate the maximum deflection of the spring when mass is dropped from a
height of 0.3 m onto collar at the end. Calculate the deflection of the spring when the mass
comes to a rest.

Figure 14
SOLUTION

2Mg + (2Mg )2 +(8kMgz ) 2 x 5 x 9.81 + (2 x 5 x 9.81)2 +(8 x 4000 x 5 x 9.81 x 0.3)

x= =
2k 2 x 4000
x = 0.099 m or 99 mm

Static deflection xs = Mg/k = 5 x 9.81/4000 = 0.012 m or 12 mm.

 SELF ASSESSMENT EXERCISE No. 3

1. A spring loaded platform supports a mass of 150 kg as shown and the platform deflects 20 mm
from its normal position. If the same mass is dropped onto the platform from a height of
200 mm what will be the maximum deflection of the platform?

Figure 15
(Answers 131 mm)

2. A beam is placed across a span as shown. When a force of 20 kN is applied at the centre, it
deflects 3 mm. Calculate the maximum deflection when a mass of 5000 kg is dropped from a
height of 10 mm onto the middle and the deflection when the mass rests on the beam.

Figure 16
(Answers 22 mm and 7.36 mm)