WORK, POWER, ENERGY

a) A ball of mass 500g is moving at a velocity of 5m/s. What is the kinetic energy of the ball?
b) Billy has a mass of 40kg. He runs up a flight of 20 steps, each of height 0.25m. Calculate
his gain in gravitational potential energy. (2kJ)
c) A person exerts a horizontal force of 600 N on a box that also experiences a friction force
of 200N. If it takes 4.0s to move the box 3.0m, what is the average useful power? (300W)
d) A block of mass 6kg is pulled across a rough surface by a 54N force, against a friction
force f. The acceleration of the block is 6m/s2. What is the value of f? (18 N)
A crane can lift a 200kg mass through a vertical height of 5m in 4s. Calculate
i) the power output of the motor driving the crane (2.5kW)
ii) the efficiency of the motor if the power input is 5kW (50%)
A pendulum bob of mass 0.5kg is moved sideways until it has risen by a vertical height of
0.2m. Calculate the speed of the bob at its
i) highest point (0), (ii) lowest point (2m/s)
A ball of mass 3kg is dropped from a height of 5m.
i) calculate the gravitational potential energy of the ball before it is dropped (150J)
ii) calculate the speed of the ball on hitting the ground (v = 10ms-1)
iii) if the ball bounces to a height of 3m, with what speed does it leave the ground? (v = 7.75
ms/)
iv). explain why the ball does not reach its original height when it bounces up again
A boy of mass 30kg runs up a flight of stairs to a floor which is at a height of 5.5m in 6.0s.
Taking the weight of 1 kg = 10 N, calculate
a). work done by the boy against gravity (1650J)
b). average power developed by the boy (275W)
The figure below shows a simple pulley system. Calculate
i). the work done by the man in lifting the load, (150 J)
ii). the gravitational potential energy gained by the load,
(120 J)
iii). the efficiency of the pulley system. (80%)

A bricklayer lifts 12 bricks each weighing 20 N a vertical

height of 1.2 m in 30 s. and place them at rest on a wall.
Calculate (a). the work done (288J), (b). the average power needed (9.6W)
A spring has a length of 5.0cm when it has no load hanging on it. When a load of weight 30N
is hung from it, its length becomes 11.0cm. How long will it be if the weight of the load is
changed to 20N? (9.0 cm)
An empty lift is counterbalanced by a heavy piece of metal. Some people of combined mass
350 kg enter the lift and operate it. The lift rises 50 m in 60 s. Calculate
a). the work done in raising the people (175kJ)
b). the power required to do this (2916.7W)

A boy riding a bicycle has a total mass of 60kg and an acceleration of 0.6m/s2. Calculate the
accelerating force acting on the boy and the bicycle. (36 N)
A steady force of 6.0 N is applied horizontally to a body of mass 4.0 kg, which is initially at
rest. In the 2.0 s during which the force is applied, the mass moves 3.0 m in the direction of
the force. Assuming that there is no resistance to the motion, find
a). the work done by the force (18 J)
b). the resulting kinetic energy of the body (18 J)
c). the resulting velocity of the body (3 m/s)
An athlete throws a javelin of mass 0.80 kg so that its centre of gravity is raised from a height
of 2.0m above ground level at the moment of release, to a maximum height of 14.0 during its
flight.
Calculate the energy to lift it against gravity to this height.
Explain why the energy with which the javelin leaves the athlete's hand is considerably
greater than the energy calculated above.
96 J, This is because the energy calculated is for the work done to lift the javelin vertically
upwards. In the motion, the javelin also moves horizontally. Therefore extra energy is needed
to do the work.
A small, hard ball of mass 0.14 kg is thrown vertically upwards and reaches a height of 12 m
above the point from which it is thrown.
Calculate the least energy which it must be given when thrown.
On a windless day an inflated ball of much larger volume but having the same mass is
propelled upwards with the same energy. It reaches a considerably smaller height. Explain
briefly why this is so.
16.8 J, A larger volume means that the ball has a larger surface area so it will experience a
larger resistance. Hence some energy is lost resulting in a smaller height.
In a crash test a car of mass 1500kg containing a dummy is driven into a rigid barrier at a
speed of 15m/s. The recorded results showed that the interval between the first contact with
the barrier and the car coming to rest was 0.12s.
(a) calculate the average deceleration of the car over the 0.12s
(b) find the retarding force, assumed to be constant, acting on the car
(c) One of the man-shaped dummies used in the above test was strapped in place with a
safety belt. The dummy was found to have moved forward 0.25m against the force exerted by
the belt. Given that the kinetic energy of the dummy just before impact was 7870 J, calculate
the average force which acted in the dummy as it was stopping.
(d) Explain why it is an advantage for anyone riding in the car to be brought to rest steadily
over this distance of 0.25m rather than abruptly.
125 m/s2, 1.875 x 105 N, 31480 N, The force acting on the passenger will be much greater
and hence drastic injuries could result if the passenger is brought to rest suddenly.
In a study on impact, a bullet of mass 50g penetrates a target and is brought to rest from an
initial speed of 500 ms-1 in 0.2 s.
i) Calculate the average deceleration of the bullet over the 0.2 s. (2500 ms-1)
ii) Find the retarding force acting on the bullet during its impact with the target. (125 N)

In a laboratory experiment, a small trolley was accelerated from rest by applying a small
force to it. The distance travelled by the trolley was measured as 1.1 m in a time of 0.55 s.
Calculate its average speed. (2 m/s)
During this movement, the trolley was uniformly accelerating from rest. Calculate its speed
after 0.55 s and its acceleration during this speed. (4 m/s)
The mass of the trolley is 1.2 kg. What is the force producing this acceleration? (8.73 N)
A student Ben, starting at point P, walks due North for 1hr at a constant speed of 4.0km/h and
then, at the same constant speed, walks 4.0km due East, finishing at a point Q. In the same
total time but at a different constant speed, a second student Tom walks directly from P to Q.
Determine
(i) the total distance walked by student Ben, (8 km)
(ii) the distance walked by student Tom, (5.7 km)
(iii) the velocity of student Tom (2.85 km/h at 45 to the North)
A stunt man has one end of a thick elastic cord attached to him. The other end of the cord is
firmly attached to a point on a high bridge. When the man jumps from the bridge he falls
freely under gravity for 2.5s. Take the acceleration of free fall to be 10m/s2 and assume that
the man is initially at rest.
(a) Calculate (i) the vertical speed the man acquires during his free fall
(ii) the vertical distance fallen
Suggest one reason why, in a real jump, the distance fallen in 2.5 s and the speed reached
would be less than your calculated answers, even though the cord was slack throughout the
2.5 s.
(b) After this time the cord begins to stretch and the man falls with continually reducing
downward acceleration. Why is this?
(c) Eventually his downward acceleration becomes zero. Explain why this happens.
If the mass of the man is 80 kg, suggest a value for the tension in the cord when his
downward acceleration is zero.
Without making any further calculation, describe his motion after the point where his
downward acceleration has become zero.
a)(i) vertical speed, v = u + at = 0 + 10(2.5) = 25 m/s
a)(ii) vertical distance fallen = (u + v) / 2 x 2.5 = (25/2) x 25 = 31.25 m
The existence of the air resistance brought about a smaller resultant force.
(b) As the stunt man falls further, the tension in the cord increases and together with air
resistance reduce the resultant force.
(c) This is because the tension in the cord equals the man's weigh; no net forces is present at
this time.
tension in the cord = weight of man = 80 x 10 = 800 N
The man begins to oscillate up and down about this point.

MOMENTS
1) A light metre rule is allowed to pivot freely at the zero end.
The other end is supported by a spring balance. A weight of
200N is then hung at the 40cm mark. The metre rule stays
horizontal. What is the reading on the spring balance? (80 N)
2) A uniform metre ruler of weight 0.2N balances at the 60-cm mark when a weight W is
placed at the 80-cm mark. What is the value of W? (0.1 N)
3) A uniform rod of weight 5N and length 1m is pivoted at a point 20cm from one of its ends.
A weight is hung from the other end so that the rod balances horizontally. What is the value
of the weight? (5 N)
4) A uniform metre rule AB is supported at its centre of gravity by a knife edge. A force of 5N
is applied at a point which is 30cm from end A of the rule. Calculate the force which must be
applied to point B to restore equilibrium. [2.0N]
5) A boy of weight 600N sits on the see-saw as shown at a
distance of 1.5m from the pivot. What is the force F required at
the other end to balance the see-saw? (450N)

6) A very light rod 40cm long is pivoted at the centre. A weight of 50N is placed at one end.
Where is the place to put a weight of 200N in order that the rod is in equilibrium?
[5cm from the centre]
7) A very light rod 20cm long has weights of 60N and 40N at its ends. About which point can
the rod balance horizontally? [8cm from the 60N weight]
8) A uniform rod 1m long has masses of 100g and 40g at its ends. If it balances 30cm from
one end, what is the weight of the rod? [0.1N]
9) The figure shows a uniform metre rule pivoted
at the 50cm mark. 125g and 200g weights hang
from the rule as shown.
(a) Calculate where you would hang a 25g mass in
order to balance the rule horizontally
(b) State, without calculation, how the rule with
the two masses hanging as shown in the figure could be balanced without using any extra
mass. [40cm from the pivot on the side of the 200g mass]

PRESSURE
Take gravitational force acting on a mass of 1kg to be 10N
1) a) A block of wood measuring 6m by 3m by 0.5m is placed on a table. If the mass of the
block of wood is 4500kg, what is the pressure on the table due to the block? (2500Pa)
b) A man stands on snow wearing a pair of skis. The total mass of the man is 60kg and each
of the skis has an area of 0.2m2 in contact with the snow. A 1kg mass has a gravitational
force of 10N acting on it. What pressure does the man exert on the snow? (1500 N/m2)
c) A tank 3 m long, 1 m wide, and 0.5 m deep is filled with oil which weighs 12 000 N. What
is the pressure on the base of the tank due to the oil? (4kPa)
d) Water of depth 10 m exerts a pressure equal to atmospheric pressure. An air bubble rises to
the surface of a lake which is 20 m deep. When the bubble reaches the surface, its volume is
6cm3. What was the volume of the air bubble at the bottom of the lake? (2cm3)
e) When a block of metal of mass 1.2kg stands on a horizontal surface, the area of contact
between the block and the surface is 8.0cm2. Assuming that the force of gravity acting on a
mass of 1kg is 10N, calculate the pressure exerted by the block on the surface. (1.5Nm-2)
2) The figure shows a manometer with limbs of
cross-sectional area of 0.0015 m2. It contains a
liquid which exerts a pressure of 5000Nm-3.
Calculate
i) the volume of liquid between the levels PQ and
RS in the left-hand tube
ii) the weight of the volume of liquid in i.
iii) the excess pressure, in Nm-2, of the gas supply
above the surrounding atmospheric pressure
(0.00075m3, 3.75N, 2500Nm-2)
3) The tyres of a car are in contact with the ground
over a total area 3.0 x 10-2 m2. The total weight of the car is 6300N. Calculate the pressure
exerted by the tyres on the ground.
Why would you expect the temperature of the tyres to have risen after the car has been in
motion for some time?
210 000 N/m2, The temperature of the tyres rises because the work done in overcoming
friction with the road is transformed to heat energy.
5) The figure shows two vertical tubes P and Q, each
closed at the upper end. The pressure in the space
above the mercury meniscus in tube P is negligibly
small. There is a small amount of air in this space in
the tube Q.
The density of mercury is 13.6 x 10 kg/m3. The
gravitational force on a mass of 1.00kg is 10.0N.
Determine (i) the atmospheric pressure, in Pa, at that
time, (ii) the pressure, in Pa, exerted by the air in the
space at the top of tube Q.
{1.02 x 105 Pa, 2.04 x 104 Pa}

6) The figure shows a U-tube manometer

connected to a gas cylinder of large volume. The
atmospheric pressure is 76cm of mercury.
(a)(i) What is the pressure at A in the right-hand
tube?
(ii) What is the pressure at B in the left-hand tube?
(b) The tap is opened and mercury is run out until
the level in the left-hand tube drops to the 60cm
mark.
(i) assuming that the pressure in the gas cylinder
remains constant, what is the new position of the
level in the right-hand tube?
(ii) Explain how you arrived at your answer.
Solution
(a) (i) 76cmHg. (because A is exposed to the atmosphere so it experiences atmospheric
pressure) (a) (ii) 106cmHg (because the pressure at B equals the point in line with it in the
other tube. The pressure there is atmospheric pressure + pressure due to the column of
mercury) = 76 + 30
(b) (i) The new position in the right-hand tube is at the 30cm mark
(ii) The pressure of the gas cylinder remains the same, hence the difference between the
levels of mercury in A and B remains constant. Since B drops by 20cm, A likewise will drop
by 20cm from the 10cm mark to the 30cm mark.
The diagram shows a metal sphere S mounted on an insulating stand. (a)
Describe a simple test you could perform, and which does not alter any
charge there may be on the sphere, to determine whether or not the sphere is
charged.
(b) Given that the sphere is charged, how could you test whether the charge
is positive or negative, without altering the charge on the sphere?
Solution:
(a) Bring an uncharged conducting sphere P suspended on an insulating
thread close to but not touching S. If P does not move towards S, then S is
uncharged. If P moves towards S, then S is charged.
(b)Using P with a positive charge, bring it slowly from a far distance towards S. Observe for
any deflection of P along the way. If P is deflected away from S, then S is positively charged.
If P is attracted towards S, then S is negatively charged.
State briefly how you would give an electric charge to
(a) a glass rod, (b) a copper disc attached to the end of a nylon rod, assuming that you have
available a charged polythene tile.
Solution: (a) By rubbing the glass rod with another insulating material such as plastic or a
cloth, we can charge the rod by friction. (b) First place the charged polythene tile close to but
not touching the disc and then earth the disc once. The disc now has an induced charge of
sign opposite to that of the charged polythene tile.

An electrically charged sphere C is brought near a small uncharged conducting sphere S

suspended as shown in Fig. 1. S is first attracted towards C until it touches the surface of C
and then repelled to the position shown in Fig. 2
(a) (i) Explain why S is first attracted towards C
(ii) Explain why S is repelled after touching the surface of C
(b) On Fig 2 mark and label each force acting on S
(c) When a bunsen flame is passed beneath S, the sphere falls back towards C. Suggest why
this happens
(a) (i) Since C is positively charged, it will induce negative charges on the side of S facing C.
As unlike charges attract, S is attract towards C.
(ii) Upon touching C, S's negative charges get transferred onto C to neutralise some of the
positive charges. S becomes positively charged. The like charges in C and S repel each other.
(c) The flame ionizes the air surrounding S which neutralises the charges on S. This
eliminates the force of repulsion.

A body is accelerated uniformly from rest and in the first 8.0s of its motion it travels 20m.
Calculate
a) the average speed of this period of 8 s (2.5 m/s)
b) the speed at the end of this period (5 m/s)
c) the acceleration (5/8 m/s2)
A metal box, attached to a small parachute, is dropped from a helicopter.
(a) Explain in terms of the forces acting, why
(i) its velocity increased immediately after being dropped
(ii) it reached a uniform velocity after a short time
(b) The total force opposing the motion of the box and parachute at a particular instant during
its fall is 30N. The combined mass of the box and parachute is 5.0kg. Calculate the
resultant downward force on the box and parachute. (g = 10 N/Kg)
Briefly describe the motion of the box and parachute at this time
(c) At the end of this fall the parachute is caught on a tall tree. The box is then cut loose and
falls from rest to the ground. The time of fall is 2.4 s. Calculate
(i) the velocity with which the box strikes the ground
(ii) the average velocity during its fall
(iii) the distance fallen (g = 10 m/s2)
Solutions
a) i) This is because at the moment the box left the helicopter, the force of gravity pulled it
downwards, causing an increase in velocity
a) ii) The presence of the parachute increased the air resistance which acted as a constant
retarding force on the box. Once this force was equal to the weight of the box, velocity
became constant.
b) resultant downward force = (5 x 10) - 30 = 20 N
From Newton's Second Law of Motion, the box and parachute at this time will accelerate at a
rate of 4 m/s2
c) i) given t = 2.4 s, u = 0, g = 10 m/s2,
v = u + at
v = 10(2.4) = 24 m/s
c) ii) average velocity = (u + v)/2 = (0 + 24)/2 = 12 m/s
c) iii) distance = 12 x 2.4 = 28.8m

A village is 5.00km from the nearest electricity substation. Two conductors are used to
connect the village to the substation. Each metre length of each conductor has a resistance of
0.00120.
a. Calculate
i. the combined resistance of the 2 conductors from the substation to the village
ii. the power loss in the conductors when the current through them is 40.0A
b. The voltage between the 2 conductors is 6000 V and the voltage to each house in the
village is 240 V.
i. Name the device that is used to change the 6000 V supply to a 240 V supply
ii Explain why such a high voltage is used for transmitting the electricity
Solution
ai. Resistance of a 5.00km length of conductor
= (5.00 x 103) x 0.00120
= 6.00
The conductors must be connected in series in order that a closed circuit can be formed.
Combined resistance = 6.00 + 6.00 = 12.0
aii. Power loss in the conductors = I2R = (40)2 x 12.0 = 19200W
bi. step-down transformer
bii. Since electrical power = current x voltage, a high voltage used means that only a low
current is required. For low currents the loss of electrical power as heat in the cables, being
I2R is also low. Besides, cables needed to carry a low current can be relatively thin, thus
reducing the cost of the conductor used.

Work and Energy

1) When a car brakes it slows down due to the friction force between the tyres and
the road. If the friction force is a constant 500 N and the car comes to rest in 25 m, how much
work is done by the friction force? {-12500J}
2) A boy walks along with a constant velocity holding a suitcase.
How much work is done by the force holding the case? {0J}
3) A bird weighing 200 g sits on a tree branch.
How much work does the bird do on the tree? {0J}
4) As a box slides along the floor it is slowed down by a constant force due to friction. If this
force is 150 N and the box slides for 2 m, how much work is done against the frictional
force? {-300J}
5) A ball of mass 200 g is thrown vertically upwards with a velocity of 2 m s-1. Use the law of
conservation of energy to calculate its maximum height. {0.2m}
6) A block slides down the frictionless ramp
shown in the diagram. Use the law of
conservation of energy to find its speed
when it gets to the bottom. {10ms-1}

v
5m

7) A stone of mass 500 g is thrown off the top of a cliff with a speed of 5 m s21. If the cliff is
50 m high, what is its speed just before it hits the ground? {32ms-1}
8) A ball of mass 100 g is hit vertically upwards with a bat. The bat exerts a constant force of
15 N on the ball and is in contact with it for a distance of 5 cm.
(a) How much work does the bat do on the ball? {0.75J}
(b) How high will the ball go? {0.75m}
9) A child pushes a toy car of mass 200 g up a slope. The car has a speed of 2 m s21 at the
bottom of the slope.
(a) How high up the slope will the car go? {0.2m}
(b) If the speed of the car were doubled how high would it go now? {0.8m}
Power
1) A car of mass 1000 kg accelerates from rest to 100 km h21 in 5 seconds. What is the
average power of the car? {78.4 kW}
2) A weightlifter lifts 200 kg 2 m above the ground in 5 s. Calculate the power of the
weightlifter in watts. {800W}
3) In 25 s a trolley of mass 50 kg runs down a hill. If the difference in height between the top
and the bottom of the hill is 50 m, how much power will have been dissipated? {1000W}
4) A car moves along a road at a constant velocity of 20 m s21. If the resistance force acting
against the car is 1000 N, what is the power developed by the engine? {20 kW}

Efficiency
1) A box of mass 10 kg is pulled along the floor for 2 m by a horizontal force of 50 N.
If the frictional force is 20 N, what is the efficiency of the system? {0.6}
2) A motor is used to lift a 10 kg mass 2 m above the ground in 4 s. If the power input to the
motor is 100 W, what is the efficiency of the motor? {50%}
3) A motor is 70% efficient. If 60 kJ of energy is put into the engine, how much work is got
out? {42kJ}
4) The drag force that resists the motion of a car travelling at 80 km h21 is 300 N.
(a) What power is required to keep the car travelling at that speed? {6.67 kW}
(b) If the efficiency of the engine is 60%, what is the power of the engine? {11.1 kW}

A body is accelerated uniformly from rest and in the first 8.0s of its motion it travels 20m.
Calculate
a) the average speed of this period of 8 s (2.5 m/s)
b) the speed at the end of this period (5 m/s)
c) the acceleration (5/8 m/s2)
A metal box, attached to a small parachute, is dropped from a helicopter.
(a) Explain in terms of the forces acting, why
(i) its velocity increased immediately after being dropped
(ii) it reached a uniform velocity after a short time
(b) The total force opposing the motion of the box and parachute at a particular instant during
its fall is 30N. The combined mass of the box and parachute is 5.0kg. Calculate the
resultant downward force on the box and parachute. (g = 10 N/Kg)
Briefly describe the motion of the box and parachute at this time
(c) At the end of this fall the parachute is caught on a tall tree. The box is then cut loose and
falls from rest to the ground. The time of fall is 2.4 s. Calculate
(i) the velocity with which the box strikes the ground
(ii) the average velocity during its fall
(iii) the distance fallen (g = 10 m/s2)
Solutions
a) i) This is because at the moment the box left the helicopter, the force of gravity pulled it
downwards, causing an increase in velocity
a) ii) The presence of the parachute increased the air resistance which acted as a constant
retarding force on the box. Once this force was equal to the weight of the box, velocity
became constant.
b) resultant downward force = (5 x 10) - 30 = 20 N
From Newton's Second Law of Motion, the box and parachute at this time will accelerate at a
rate of 4 m/s2
c) i) given t = 2.4 s, u = 0, g = 10 m/s2,
v = u + at
v = 10(2.4) = 24 m/s
c) ii) average velocity = (u + v)/2 = (0 + 24)/2 = 12 m/s
c) iii) distance = 12 x 2.4 = 28.8m