•

Work, Energy
and Power
NCERT Topicwise Analysis of Previous Years'
NEET I JEE Main Questions
No. of Questions
NCERTTopic

-----
3 Years' Weightage
~

5.2 Notions of Work and

Kinetic Energy : The Work- - I 3
1Energy Theorem I 2022 ---. 2024 2022 .--.
S.3Work - - 2 3
3 29.4%
~ Kinetic Energy -- 3 -+--6~ - 9

5.5 Work Done by a Variable _ _

3
u-- - - -
Force
5.6 The Work-Energy
+--+ - _.___
_ ~ '
2
-- ---- -
1 2
Theorem for a Variable Force I
_ 2
5.7 The Concept of Potential 2
2
-, NEET JEE Main
Energy --+-I- --+--. ...--.. ..----+ ---+--
5.8 The Conservation of
Mechanical Energy
4 - I -
5

5.9 The Potential Energy of 4

a Sprin_g_ _ _ _
5.10 Power 3 5

5.11 Collisions 3 5

(II Introduction
l quantities work, energy and power.
► The aim of this chapter is to develop an understanding of three physica
A and B is defined as A. B= AB cos0,
► Scalar produc t: The scalar produc t or dot produc t of any two vectors
where 0 is the angle between A and B.
- -
B
B

0
A -+: Bcos0 A
(a) (b)

A· B =A(B cos0) =B(A cos0)

(b) and A cos 0 is the project ion of
Geometrically, B cos 8 is the projection of B onto A as shown in figure
Aonto B as shown in figure (c).
> Some important points about scalar produc t : A A A

- Scalar produc t of unit vectors i, j and k

"" " " " /I
i·i=(l) (l)cos0 °=I, j·j=l, k-k=I
86 t1A.tG- Objective NCERT
aty~
f,
I\ I\ I\ I\ I\
i· j =(l)(l)cos90° =O, j-k =0, k- 1'> =0
- Scalar product is commutative A.B = B.A _ _ _ _
· d.istn·but·1ve A•(B+C)=A.B+A.C
Sca1ar pro duct 1s
- •
Scalar product when two vectors are given •n component form
i
- - " " " " '> b k)
A·B= (axi+ ayj+ azk). (bxi+ byJ+ z = axx b + a b + azb.,
Y Y ~ .
- . . lf • th square of its magmtude,
Scalar product of a vector with itse gives e
A· A= (A)(A)cos0° =A2
c -A-A 2+a2 +a2 So A- a2+ a2+ a2
ln component 1orm, • =ax y z • - x Y z
andA ~O.
- Angle between two vectors
A· B 0 xbx +ayhy +azb=
(·: A· B=ABcos0)
cos 0 = - - = / / 2 2 2
AB \Ja/+ a/+a :2 \}bx +by +bz
_ If two non-zero vectors A and B are perpendicular, then their dot product must be zero.
A· B=(A)(B)cos9O° =0, A· B=axbx +ayh_ 1, +azbz =0
&B Notions of Work and Kinetic Energy : The Work-Energy Theorelll
► From kinematic equation, v2 - u2 =2as
••• (i)
Multiplying both sides by m/2
l 2 l
-mv --mu2 =mas=Fs
2 2
► In general equation (i) becomes v2 - u2 = 2a • s
or 1 mv2 - 1 mu 2 = m a- • -s = F- • -s or K - K; = W
2 2 1
w__!:iere K; and K are respectively the initial and final kineti
1 c energies of the object. Wis the work done byit
(F) on the body over a certain displacement (s).
The change in kinetic energy of a particle is equal to the work
done on it by the net force.
l+l] Wo rk
► Work is said to be done on a body only if the following condi
tions are satisfied :
- A force acts on the body.
- The point of application of the force moves in the direct
ion of the force.
► Work done by a constant force : Measurement of work done
when the force acts along the direction ofm.t
Work done (W) = Force (F) x distance moved in the direct
ion of force (s)
Measurement of work done when force and displacemen
t are
inclined to each other.
Work done ( W) = component of force in the direct
ion
of displacement (F cosS) x magnitude of displacemen
t (s)
=Fs cos0 =F·s
► Positive and negative work : Work done is a scalar quant
ity. It can be positive or negative.
-l
F

e < 90°,
L,
e = 90°,
Wis +ve
e > 90°,
Wis zero Wis -ve

J
Physics I Work, Energy and Power 89

XJ VJ
f F(x) dx = - f dV = Vi - VJ
X; V;

► Work done by a conservative force depends on the initial and final positions only.
The change in potential energy, for a conservative force, !!:,, Vis equal to the negative of the work done by the force
!!:,,V= -F(x) tu

II) The Conservation of Mechanical Energy

► Suppose that a body undergoes displacement tu under the action of a conservative force F. Then from the
work-energy theorem we have, !!:,,K = F(x) tu
If the force is conservative, the potential energy function V(x) can be defined such that, -!!:,, V = F(x) tu
Thus !!:,,K + I:!:,, V = 0 ; !!:,,(K + V) = 0 or K + V = constant
Over the whole path, X; to x1 this means that
Ki+ V(x;) = Kf + V(x} ... (i)
The quantity K + V(x), is called the total mechanical energy of the system. Individually the kinetic energy Kand
the potential energy V(x) may vary from point to point, but the sum is a constant.
► There are some of the definitions of a conservative force. !!:,,V
- A force F(x) is conservative if it can be derived from a scalar quantity V(x) by the relation F(x) = - - .
The three-dimensional generalisation requires the use of a vector derivative. tu
- The work done by the conservative force depends only on the end points.
W = ~- K; = V(x;) - V(x1)
which depends on the end points.
- The work done by this force in a closed path is zero. This is once again apparent from eqn. (i) since X; = xf.
Thus, the principle of conservation of total mechanical energy can be stated as
The total mechanical energy of a system is conserved, if the forces, doing work on it, are conservative.
► A ball of mass m is dropped from a cliff of height H. x
Total energy of ball at different heights,
... (i) =0
EH=mgH
1 2
Eh =mgh+-mvh ... (ii)
•
i!
•
V

V = Vh
T
H
2
1 2 h V = VJ
Eo =-2 mvJ •• )
... ('11l
Figure: The conversion of potential
Mechanical energy is conserved so from eqn. (i), (ii) and (iii) we get energy to kinetic energy for a ball of
vJ = ✓2gH, vh = ✓2g(H -h)
mass m dropped from a height H.

H
:():\ Motion in a Vertical Circle
:J....j • When a small body of mass m is attached to an inextensible light string of
length rand whirling in a vertical circle about a fixed point O to which the
other end of the string is attached as shown in figure, then
Tension at any position of angular displacement (8) along a vertical
2
f J.......,..,o~ •_.
• 1e 1s
Circ •
• given mv- + mg cos 8
by; T = - L VL
r 2 mgsin 111gcos8
mg
Thus, tension at the lowest point (8 = 0°) is given by; TL= mvL + mg
r 2
and tension at the highest point (0 = 180°) is given by, TH= mvH - mg
- Minimum velocity at the highest point, vH = /gr r

- Minimum velocity at the lowest point for looping the loop, vL = Jsi
- When the string is horizontal, 0 = 90°, minimum velocity, v = }3i
- Height through which a body should fall for looping the vertical loop or radius r is, h = Sr/2.
 l
90 r.-ttG- Objective NCERT at your Finge .
rt1Ps

Bl] The Potential Energy of a Spring

> While stretching and compressing the spring by displacement xm, F,=O
x=O
the total work done by the spring force is
At equilibrium x=O

W=
Xf

0
F5dx = -f
X

0
kxdx = -
kx2
2
m

Stretched
This work done is negative because f 5 and xm are in opposite
directions as shown in the figure. : F • is positive
► When spring is compressed or elongated by x then potential energy Compressed
1 2
is stored in it. P.E. = V = 2 kx .
Since the spring force is conservative, the total work done by spring
y
in a cyclic process is zero.
. . . 1 2 I 2 ~
► Maximum speed of the sprmg or block vm 1s given by kxm = 2 mvm u
C
2 tll
E == K.E.+p.!.
P.E.
:. vm = /gxm; xm = amplitude of block

► In spring-block system, the kinetic energy gets converted to potential

energy and vice-versa, however, the total mechanical energy remains
X
constant. Hence total sum of K.E. and P.E. is constant.
► If the two forces on the body consist of a conservative force F, and a non-conservative force Fnc , then by~
WE theorem
(F,+ Fn,) tu= M
But F, tu = -!l V
Hence, ll(K + V) = Fn, tu
!lE = Fn, tu
where E is the total mechanical energy. Over the path this assumes the form
E1 - E; = Wn,
where W nc is the total work done by the non-conservative forces over the path. W nc depends on the particular pan

llD]Power
► The time rate of change of work done or energy transferred is called power.
Instantaneous power,
dW - dx
Ernst = - = F •- ⇒ flnst = F·v (where v = instantaneous velocity)
dt dt
i.e., power is equal to the scalar product of force with velocity.
Average power, p _ W(Net work done)
_ -------
av t (time taken)
► It is a scalar quantity like work and energy.
► Commercial unit of power is horse power denoted by hp.
1 hp= 746 watt
Electrical energy is measured in kWh.
1 kW h = 1 x 1000 x 60 x 60 W s = 3600000 W s
1 kWh= 3.6 x 106 J
 l
92 ~tG- Objective NCERT at your Fing ert1PI.
Substituting e = O, we get the equation for final velocity of particle in perfectly inelastic collision.
2
Loss in kinetic energy M =.!_[ m1m2 ](l-e2)(u1 -u2 )

►
~-,
~ 2 m1 +m2

Elastic collision in two dimensions : Consider two bodies of masses m 1 and m2 u

(assume~ 2 < uI)

are moving with velocities u 1 and u2. After an oblique collision, m 1 deviates by r,;,e ,,
angle 0 and m 2 deviates by angle <I> from the main path as shown in the figure.
As momentum is conserved, then along x-axis,
m 1u1 + m2 u2 = m1 v1 cos 0 + m2v2 cos <I> ... (i) "4 "°41 ml
~ .....•.•.••••~ •••.:...
~ i
~IC09J
·~·······--····;,--~
~
~
and along y-axis, 0 = m1v1 sin 0 - m2v2 sin <I> ... (ii)
.,., I .,., .,.,
As K.E. is also conserved then
• V2
1 21 2 l 21 2 ... (iii) tv2 sin~
2m1U1 +2m2Ui =2m1V1 +2miv2
For m1 = m2 , u2 = 0 and u1 = u
From eqn. (i) and eqn. (ii), we get
U = v1cos0 + v2cosq> ... (iv)
0 = v1sin8 - v2 sinq> ... (v)
Squaring and adding eqn. (iv) and eqn. (v), we get
u2 = v/ + v/ + 2v1v2 cos(0 + <I>) ... (vi)
Now, from eqn. (iii), we get
2
u = v/ + v/ ... (vii)
By comparing eqn. (vi) and eqn. (vii), cos(8 + <I>) = 0
or 0 +<I>= n/2
Hence, velocities v1 and v2 are perpendicular to each other.