PHYSICS FOR ENGINEERS
MODULE 11 – Work & Power
April 2023
What is WORK?
The work done on a system by a constant force is defined to be the product of the
component of the force in the direction of motion times the distance through in the direction
of motion lies the distance through which the force acts. For one way motion in one
dimension, this is expressed in equation, equation form as
W = F.d
W = (F cos Ø) . d
Where W is work, d is the displacement of the system, and Ø is the angle between the
vector F and displacement vector d. F & d are in the same direction. f
How does it work? d
F
d
W = F. d
F
Ø
Fcos Ø
d
W = (F cos Ø ) d
Unit of Work – The SI unit for work the Joule (J). Where 1 J = 1 N.m = 1 kg. m2 / sec2. The
work done is positive if the force and displacement have the same direction, and negative if
they are opposite direction.
Ex. Just holding a book
book
F d d
d d
90ᴼ
F F
W= FcosØ.d W= FcosØ.d W= FcosØ.d W= FcosØ.d
0
Since d =0 W= Fcos 0ᴼ W= F cos 180ᴼ (-1) W = F cos 90ᴼ x
d
W= Fcos Ø x 0 Cos 0ᴼ =1, then W= - F.d W=0
W=0 W = positive work W= negative wok
Ex. A person pulls an 80kg crate 20m across a level floor using a rope that is 30 degree
above the horizontal. The person exerts a force of 150 N on the rope. How much work is
done?
150 N 150 N
F F
30ᴼ
d = 20m
Note; the 80 kg mass of the crate has no significance here – The force exerted of the crate
determines how much work is done.
W = F cos 30 x d 180ᴼ
W = 150 N. cos 30 . 20 m
W = 2.6 x103 J or 2.6 KJ
WORK DONE AGAINST GRAVITY – The force needed to lift an object of mass against
gravity is simply its weight w = m.g, therefore
F = w = m.g (Force F is equal to the weight, w)
W = ( F cos Ø) d
W = (m.g. cos Ø ) d since cos oᴼ = 1
W = m.g.d
Ex 1; How much work is done when Allen applies a force of 200 N to drag an 80 kg
crate 8.0 m across the warehouse floor?
W = F cos O. d
m = 80 kg
F = 200 N
D = 8.0 m
W = F cos Oᴼ . d = 200 N x Cos Oᴼ x 8.0m = 1600 Joules
Ex 2; Refer back to Prob. 1, how much W is done by a forklift when it lift the crate to a
shelf 3.0 m above the floor?
F = w = m.g = 80 kg. x 9.8 m/sec2 = 784 J
W = F cos Oᴼ . d
W = 784 J cos 0. 3.0 m
W = 2,532 J
Ex. 3 Allen has a mass of 75 kg. How much work will he do climbing stairs with a vertical
height of 2.0 m?
2.0m
F = w = m.g
= 75kg x 9.8 m/sec2 = 735 N
W = 735 N x Cos 0ᴼ x 2.0 m
W = 735 x 2 = 1,470 N.m or 1,470 joules
Power – is the rate of doing work or the amount of energy transferred or converted per unit
of time. Having no direction, it is s scalar quantity. Power is the rate at which work is done. It
is the work/time ratio. Mathematically, it is computed using the following equation.
WORK
P= or P = W/T where ; P – watts, W
TIME
W – joules, J
T – secs
P = Force x Displacement or P = F x Displacement Velocity
Time Time
P = Force x Velocity
The new equation for power reveals that a powerful machine is both strong (big force) and
fast (big velocity). A powerful car engine is strong and fast.
Horsepower is often used to describe the power delivered by a machine. Horsepower is a
unit of power in the British System of measurement. It is the power required to lift 550
pounds by one foot in one second and is about 746 watts. The watts is often seen in relation
to light bulbs.
1 hp = 746 watts
Ex. An electric motor with an output of 15 Kw provides power for the elevator of a six
storey building. If the total mass of the loaded elevator is 1000 kg, what is the minimum time
needed for it to rise 30 m from the ground floor to the top floor.
Solution ; the work done in raising the elevator through a height h is
W = m.g.h since P = W / t
t = W/P
1000 kg = 1,000 kg x 9.8 m/sec2 x 30 m
15 x 103 watts
30 m P = 15 kw = 20 secs
Velocity = d /t = 30 / 20 = 1.5 m/sec
Ex. A garage hoist steadily lifts a car 2 meters in 15 secs. Calculate the power delivered
to the car. Assume 1,000 kg for the mass of the car.
Solution;
F. w = m.g
W = F.w.d
P = W/t = m.g.d / t
= 1,000 x 9.8 x 2m / 15 secs
= 1,308 watts. Since 1hp =746 watts
P = 1,308 watts x 1 hp / 746 watts
P = 1.75 hp
ENERGY = In Physics, the capacity of doing work. It may exist in potential, kinetic,
thermal, electrical, chemical, nuclear, or other various forms. There are, moreover,
HEAT & WORK- i.e. energy in the process of transformation from one body to
another. After it has been transferred, energy is always designated according to its
nature,
Hence, heat transfer may become thermal energy, while work done may manifest in
the form of mechanical energy.
All forms of energy are associated with motion. There are two forms of Mechanical
Energy: Kinetic Energy & Potential Energy. (this topic will be discuss in a separate
module)
this is all for now,
THANK YOU AND STAY SAFE …..
Engr. GEORGE P. ALONZO
Professional Electrical Engineer
