Unit 10: Work and Energy Adv Physics (answers at end)

Worksheet 1, Work and Power

The concept of work is applying a force through some displacement. It is calculated using the
following expression: F∙(Δx). Work is measured in units called Joules (J). A Joule is a Newton·meter.
Power is the rate that work is done (work/time, where work is measure in Joules and time in seconds).
Power is measured in Watts (W). Another way to calculate power is P = F∙v, is the velocity is constant
over the displacement.

1. We have a 5 kg box moving at a constant velocity across a frictionless floor. Create a force diagram
and determine the work done by each force. It moves 2 meters as I watch it.

2. We now give the box a horizontal 100 N push on a frictionless surface. I continue pushing on the
box through a displacement of 2 meters. Create a force diagram and determine the work done by each
force. What state of motion will the box have?

3. We now give the box a 100 N pull at an angle of 30 degrees as referenced from the horizontal (still
on a frictionless surface). I continue pulling on the box through a displacement of 2 meters. Create a
force diagram and determine the work done by each force.

4. What happens to the value of work when the angle becomes a greater value?

5. We now give the box a horizontal 100 N push on a surface where μk = 0.5. I continue pushing on
the box through a displacement of 2 meters. Create a force diagram and determine the work done by
each force. What is the net horizontal work?

How would the net horizontal work change if you pushed the box at constant speed?

Unit 10: Work and Energy, Adv Physics Practice Problems p. 1

Here is one that is similar to the online homework:

6. A cart loaded with bricks has a total mass of 10.8 kg and is pulled at constant speed by a rope. The
rope is inclined at 28.1 degrees above the horizontal and the cart moves 18.7 m on a horizontal floor.
The coefficient of kinetic friction between ground and cart is 0.482. The acceleration of gravity is 9.8
m/s2. How much work is done on the cart by the rope?
Correct answer: 0.7587 kJ (this is kilojoules and this unit is often used).

7. You lift a 50 kg barbell 1.5 meters from the ground above your head at a constant velocity. How
much work did you do? Against what force do you do the work?

8. Skyy the 40 kg is falling through the atmosphere. A 200 N drag force opposes his weight vector. If
we watch him fall 5 meters, how much work is done by Skyy’s weight vector? What about the drag
vector? What is the net work? How could you create a situation on Skyy whereby his net work = 0 J
and what would his state of motion be?

Unit 10: Work and Energy, Adv Physics Practice Problems p. 2

9. You push a 13 kg bicycle up a 25 degree hill (incline plane). You push the bike with a constant
force of 105 N parallel to the incline. The coefficient of kinetic friction = 0.4. The hill is 275 meters
long. Find the work done by the following forces: weight, friction, your push force, and finally net
work. What is the state of motion will you and the bicycle have? A force diagram will assist you.

10. Why is some work positive and some work negative? And how can a force act to create zero
work?
a) Describe a situation where a force does positive work.
b) Describe a situation where a force does negative work.
c) Describe a situation where a force does zero work.
d) Let’s say we have an object that experiences a positive net work. What state of motion does the
object have and what is happening to its velocity?
e) Let’s say we have an object that experiences zero net work. What state of motion does the object
have?

Unit 10: Work and Energy, Adv Physics Practice Problems p. 3

11. In problem #7, you lifted a 50 kg barbell 1.5 meters from the ground above your head. Let’s say
that your friend could lift the barbell in 2 seconds while it took you 3 seconds. Find the power exerted
by you and your friend. Who is more powerful?

12. Helping your dad out in the yard, you push a wheelbarrow a distance of 60 m at a constant speed
for 25 seconds by exerting a 145 N force horizontally. a) what power do you develop? and b) If you
move the wheelbarrow twice as fast, how does your power change?

13. An electric motor develops 65 kW (kilowatts) of power as it lifts a loaded elevator 17.5 m in 35
seconds. How much force does the motor exert?

14. In this country, the non-metric power unit is called the horsepower. One horsepower = 746 Watts.
Cars, motors, and lawn mowers are often rated in horsepower. A car’s horsepower can change
depending upon the engine’s rpm. If a car can develop a peak horsepower of 320 hp and is moving at
a constant velocity of 20 m/s (45 mph), determine the force exerted by the motor at this velocity.
(see: http://www.howstuffworks.com/horsepower.htm for more info)

15. Consider a force-displacement graph (displacement on the x axis and force on the y axis). The area
under the curve would then be the work function. A variable force is applied to an object according to
the following data. Calculate the work over the 6 meter displacement.

0m 0N
2m 4N
4m 8N
6m 12 N

Unit 10: Work and Energy, Adv Physics Practice Problems p. 4

Worksheet 2, Adv Physics, Energy and Energy Conservation
Energy and Energy Conservation: Physical Work (net work) can change the types of energy. We
typically discuss 4 types of energy associated with motion. Energy is also measured in Joules.
*Ek or KE = ½ ·m·v2
*Eg or PE or Ug = m·g·Δh (we measure hi from some baseline, usually the ground or some convenient
surface).
*Eel or Uel or Espring or Uspring = ½·k(Δx2) where k is the spring constant and Δx is the compression or
stretch displacement
*Energy can also be dissipated as heat. We often ignore this for many of our problems.

These are problems that are similar to those found on the online homework and test:

1. A 4.53 kg block initially at rest is pulled to the right along a horizontal, frictionless surface by a
constant, horizontal force of 13 N. Find the speed of the block after it has moved 2.72 m horizontally.
Correct answer: 3.95114 m/s.

2. A 3.81 kg block initially at rest is pulled to the right along a horizontal surface by a constant,
horizontal force of 17.8 N. The coefficient of kinetic friction is 0.12. The acceleration of gravity is 9.8
m/s2. Find the speed of the block after it has moved 3.57 m horizontally. (Remember to calculate the
net horizontal work and this equals the change of Ek)
Correct answer: 4.99608 m/s.

3. The force required to stretch a Hooke’s-law spring varies from 0 N to 63.4 N as we stretch the
spring by moving one end 4.95 cm (0.0495 m) from its unstressed position. Find the force constant of
the spring. Find the work done in stretching the spring.
Correct answer: 1280.81 N/m. Correct answer: 1.56915 J.

4. A 7 kg bowling ball is lifted 2.2 m into a storage rack. The acceleration of gravity is 9.8 m/s2.
Calculate the increase in the ball’s gravitational potential energy.
Correct answer: 150.92 J.

Unit 10: Work and Energy, Adv Physics Practice Problems p. 5

5. A spring has a force constant of 40,000 N/m. How far must it be stretched for its potential energy
to be 8 J?
Correct answer: 0.02 m.

6. A 69.3 kg high jumper leaves the ground with a vertical velocity of 9.2 m/s. How high can he
jump? The acceleration of gravity is 9.8 m/s2.
Correct answer: 4.31837 m.

7. In an arcade game a 0.106 kg disk is shot across a frictionless horizontal surface by compressing it
against a spring and releasing it. If the spring has a spring constant of 200 N/m and is compressed
from its equilibrium position by 7 cm (0.07 m), find the speed with which the disk slides across the
surface.
Correct answer: 3.04061 m/s.

8. A bobsled slides down an ice track starting (at zero initial speed) from the top of a(n) 58.6 m high
hill. The acceleration of gravity is 9.8 m/s2 . Neglect friction and air resistance and determine the
bobsled’s speed at the bottom of the hill.
Correct answer: 33.8904 m/s.

9. A ball slides without friction around a

loop-the-loop. It is released from a height of
21.5 m from the bottom of the loop-the-loop
which has a radius 8 m. The acceleration of
gravity is 9.8 m/s2.
What is its speed at point A (top of circle)?
(hint, the ball has gravitational potential
energy and kinetic energy at point A).
Correct answer: 10.3827 m/s.

Unit 10: Work and Energy, Adv Physics Practice Problems p. 6

10. A 2 kg block slides along a frictionless horizontal with a speed of 6.2 m/s. After sliding a distance
of 5 m, the block makes a smooth transition to a frictionless ramp inclined at an angle of 46º to the
horizontal. The acceleration of gravity is 9.81 m/s2. How far up the ramp does the block slide before
coming momentarily to rest? (hint, first find the height using energy conservation and then find how
far up the ramp using trig).
Correct answer: 2.7 m.
Up the
ramp
height

11. Jane, looking for Tarzan, is running horizontally along the ground at her top speed of 10 m/s and
grabs a vine hanging vertically from a tall tree in the jungle. How high can she swing upward if we
neglect any dissipative energy? (This is essentially a pendulum problem). Correct answer = 5.1 m.

12. An ideal spring with a spring constant of 500 N/m is firmly attached to a table in a horizontal
orientation and is compressed 0.25 m from its natural length.
What horizontal speed can it give to a 1 kg box when
released? Ignore any dissipative effects and assume the
surface is perfectly level. (correct answer = 5.5902 m/s)

Unit 10: Work and Energy, Adv Physics Practice Problems p. 7

13. Let’s say that the box (from the previous problem) is sliding along the frictionless surface and
encounters another surface where there is friction. If the coefficient of kinetic friction is 0.5, how far
will it take for friction to completely stop the box? (correct answer = 3.19 m)

‘smooth’ ‘rough’

14. Marble launcher problem: The marble launcher can be set up to launch the ball straight up. There
is a spring (spring constant = 100 N/m) inside the marble launcher and we can pull down on the launch
lever to compress the spring. The distance we will down is the compression or Δx. We can measure
this to be around 11.5 cm (0.115 meters) at the maximum compression. How high theoretically should
it lift the 28.2 gram (0.0282 kg) ball? (correct answer = 2.632 m) What will be the theoretical ejection
velocity of the ball? (correct answer = 7.18 m/s).

Unit 10: Work and Energy, Adv Physics Practice Problems p. 8

Answers to the problems.
Worksheet 1
1. Both the weight and the normal force vectors offer zero work because they are perpendicular to the
displacement vector.

2. Again, the weight and the normal force vectors offer zero work. The push force vector does work
on the box and that work is equal to 200 J (N·m). Work = F·Δx·cosθ = 100N·2m·cos0º What is the
state of motion? The box accelerates as we have an unbalanced force.

3. Again, the weight and the normal force vectors offer zero work. The pull force vector does work on
the box and that work is equal to 173.2 J (N·m). Work = F·Δx·cosθ = 100N·2m·cos30º

4. The work decreases as θ→90º. The work becomes zero when the force becomes perpendicular to
the displacement vector.

5. Now we add friction to the mix. There are four total forces. The weight and normal forces offer no
work to the box. The work due to the push force = 200 J (100N·2m·cos0º). The work due to kinetic
friction = -49 J (24.5N·2m·cos180º). The net horizontal work = 200 J – 49 J = 151 J. If the box was
pushed at a constant velocity, the net horizontal work = 0 as the push force and the friction would be
balanced and the work from each would sum to = 0 J.

6. This is a pretty stout problem. You have four forces (normal, weight, kinetic friction, and the pull
force). You need to summate forces in both dimensions. In the y direction: N + [Fpull·sin(28.1º)] – W
= 0. In the x direction, [Fpull·cos(28.1º)] – Fkineticfriction = 0. You need to find the frictional force by
solving μ·N. You will eventually have two equations and two unknowns. You can eventually
calculate the force = 45.9955N. The work, then, = 45.9955N·18.7m·cos (28.1º) = 758.7 J or 0.7587
kJ. Your numbers will be different on the quiz but you will work this in a similar manner.

7. This is vertical work. Since you lift the barbell at constant velocity, your upward force is done again
the barbell’s weight. Consequently, your work = m·g·Δx·cosθ = 50kg·9.8m/s^2·1.5m·cos0º = 735 J.

8. There are two forces on Skyy: his weight and the drag. The weight offers 1960 J of work
(392N·5m·cos0º) and the drag provides -1000 J (200N·5m·cos180º). The net work = 960 J. To create
a situation whereby his net work = 0 J, both forces would have to balanced. His net work = 0 J and he
would be in terminal velocity (constant) as he would be in equilibrium.

9.Well, make sure to draw a force diagram for an object on an incline plane. Obtain the two
components of the weight vector (parallel component of weight and the perpendicular component of
the weight). Calculate the kinetic frictional force. Here are your work calculations: work done by the
push force = 105N·275m·cos0º = 28,875 J; work done by the frictional force =
46.1854N·275m·cos180º = -12,701 J. To obtain the work due to the weight, you need the parallel
component of the weight: work due to the weight vector = 53.8416N·275m·cos180º = -14,806.44 J.
The net work = 1367.56 J. This is positive net work so you and the bike will be accelerating up the hill
(getting faster).

10.Work is positive or negative based on the direction of the force vector and the displacement vector.
If they are aligned in the same direction, the cos of the angle between them = 0 and the work is
positive. If they are in the opposite direction, the cos of the angle between them = -1 and the work is

Unit 10: Work and Energy, Adv Physics Practice Problems p. 9

negative. A force that is perpendicular to the displacement vector = 0 work. There are many different
scenarios. Positive net work represents an accelerated state of motion and the velocity increases. Zero
net work represents constant velocity.

11. Power is the rate of work or energy. Power = work/time. The work done lifting the barbell is 735
J and both you and your friend do the same amount of work to lift the barbell. Your friend lifts the
barball in 2 seconds. This would be 367.5 Watts (W). It takes you longer and your power = 245 W.
Your friend is more powerful.

12. Power = work / time = (145N·60m) /25s = 348 W. If you push the wheelbarrow twice as fast, the
power = 696 W.

13. Power = work/time so P·t = Work. 35,000W·35s = work = 2,275,000 J but this is = to F·Δx. The
displacement = 17.5m so the force = 1.3 x 105N.

14.Power = work / time or at a constant velocity power = force·velocity. The force of the car’s motor
= 11,936 N.

15. The area under a force-displacement diagram = work. Here is the graph:
The area is triangular so the work = ½ (12N)(6m) = 36 J.

Worksheet 2
1. The net work will become energy. In this case, our pull force creates a
change in the kinetic energy of the block. Mathematically, we could write
this: Workpullforce = ΔEk or Fpull∙Δx∙cosθ = Δ ½ mv2 = ½ mvf2 - ½ mvi2. The
block starts from rest so vi = 0, so our equation looks like this Fpull∙Δx∙cosθ =
½ mvf2. Solve for vf . 13N∙2.72m∙cos0º = ½ (4.53kg)vf2. vf = 3.9511 m/s.

2. This is a bit more complicated than problem 1 but it works in a similar manner. You have a pull
force to the right and now you have kinetic friction to the left. Your pull force = 17.8 N and you
should calculate your kinetic friction as 4.4806 N (μ∙N or μ∙m∙g). Your net force is consequently
17.8N – 4.4806N and you can multiply this by 3.57 m which is your displacement to get your net
work. Your net work = Δ ½ mv2 = ½ mvf2 - ½ mvi2. Again, vi = 0 m/s. You should get 47.5504 J for
your net work and this will equal to ½ (3.81kg)vf2. Solve this for vf and you should get 4.9961 m/s.

3. You first need to find the spring constant (k) for the spring. F = k∙Δx. Your F is 63.4 N and your
displacement = 0.0495 m. This gives you a spring constant of 1280.8081 N/m. You do work to
elongate the spring. Your work = Δspring energy = ½∙k∙Δx2. So, find the spring energy and this
equals to the work. ½ (1280.8081 N/m) (0.0495 m)2 = Your work = 1.5692 J.

4. gravitational potential energy = m∙g∙Δh = 150.92 J.

5. Δ spring energy = ½∙k∙Δx 2. Solve for Δx. Δx = 0.02 m.

6. The change of kinetic energy = change of gravitational potential energy. The jumper starts at the
ground and jumps up. His kinetic energy changes to gravitational potential energy. ½∙m∙Δv2 =
m∙g∙Δh. Solve for Δh. If hi = 0 m, then the final height = 4.318 m.

Unit 10: Work and Energy, Adv Physics Practice Problems p. 10

7. Spring energy is converted to kinetic energy. If no energy is dissipated, then ½∙k∙Δx 2 = Δ ½ mv2 =
½ mvf2 - ½ mvi2. If vi = 0 m/s, then ½ (200 N/m)(0.7 m)2 = ½ (.106 kg)(vf)2. Solve for vf. I get
3.0406 m/s.

8. The bobsled starts from rest and its gravitational potential energy is changed to kinetic energy as it
moves downhill. At the bottom of the hill, the initial gravitational potential energy = 0 J. We have a
complete transformation of energy at the bottom of the hill. mgh = ½ mvf2. You should obtain v =
33.8904 m/s for the final velocity at the bottom of the hill.

9. The types of energy at the top of the ramp = the types of energy at point A. At the top of the ramp,
w have gravitational potential energy. At point, A, we have gravitational energy and kinetic energy.
Use the bottom as your baseline reference height (h = 0 m). So, we have mghvery top = mghtop of loop the
2
loop + ½ m(vA ). Mass cancels from each term. Solve for v. 9.8 m/s/s(21.5 m) = 9.8 m/s/s (16 m) + ½
2
(vA ). The velocity at point A = 10.3827 m/s.

10. The block’s kinetic energy will go towards gravitational potential energy. You can solve for the
height of the block. ½(m)(v2) = mgΔh. Height = 1.9612 m and then use trig to get the displacement
along the ramp. You should get an answer = 2.7264 m.

11. Kinetic energy = gravitational potential energy. Solve for height and you get 5.1 m.

12. The spring’s energy is converted to kinetic energy. ½∙k∙Δx 2 = Δ ½ mv2. Solve for v and you
should get 5.5902 m/s.

13. The block now has kinetic energy and will travel at 5.5902 m/s along the frictionless surface. Once
it encounters the ‘rough’ surface, then kinetic friction will now do work on the box and that slows it
down. So the frictional work = change of kinetic energy. Find the kinetic friction and this equals 4.9
N. The frictional work = 4.9N·Δx(cos180º) = ½ (m)(vf)2 – ½ (m)(vi)2. The initial velocity = 5.5902
and the final velocity = 0 m/s. We know the mass of the block (1 kg). You can solve for the
displacement of the block or how far it will travel until it comes to rest. You should get are 3.19 m.

14. The marble launcher can demonstrate lots of energy transfer. The spring energy is converted to
kinetic energy and this is transferred to gravitational potential energy. You can calculate the spring
energy, ½∙k∙Δx 2, and you should get 0.7274 J. This amount of energy is changed to gravitational
potential energy and you can calculate the height of the ball at the apex and this should = 2.632 m.
You can also use the spring energy to get the ejection velocity from the transfer of energy to kinetic
energy. You should get around 7.18 m/s. These values are extremely theoretical and there is quite a
bit of dissipative effects here.

Unit 10: Work and Energy, Adv Physics Practice Problems p. 11