Work and Energy - Questions and Answers

Text Questions

Page 115 Questions

1. A force of 7 N acts on an object. The displacement is, say 8 m, in the direction of the force (Fig. 10.3). Let us take it that the force acts on the object through the displacement. What is the work done in this case?

Given:

  • Force, F = 7 N
  • Displacement, s = 8 m
  • Force and displacement are in the same direction

Work done, W = Force × Displacement × cosθ

Since force and displacement are in the same direction, θ = 0° and cos0° = 1

Therefore, W = F × s = 7 N × 8 m = 56 J

The work done is 56 Joules.

Page 116 Questions

1. When do we say that work is done?

Work is said to be done when:

  • A force acts on an object
  • The object is displaced in the direction of the force

Both conditions must be satisfied for work to be done according to the scientific definition.

2. Write an expression for the work done when a force is acting on an object in the direction of its displacement.

When force acts in the direction of displacement:

Work done (W) = Force (F) × Displacement (s)

W = F × s

3. Define 1 J of work.

1 joule (1 J) is the amount of work done when a force of 1 newton (1 N) displaces an object by 1 meter (1 m) along the line of action of the force.

1 J = 1 N × 1 m

4. A pair of bullocks exerts a force of 140 N on a plough. The field being ploughed is 15 m long. How much work is done in ploughing the length of the field?

Force, F = 140 N

Displacement, s = 15 m

Work done, W = F × s = 140 N × 15 m = 2100 J

The work done in ploughing the length of the field is 2100 J.

Page 119 Questions

1. What is the kinetic energy of an object?

Kinetic energy is the energy possessed by an object due to its motion. It is the energy an object has because it is moving.

2. Write an expression for the kinetic energy of an object.

The kinetic energy (Ek) of an object of mass m moving with velocity v is given by:

Ek = ½mv²

3. The kinetic energy of an object of mass, m moving with a velocity of 5 m s⁻¹ is 25 J. What will be its kinetic energy when its velocity is doubled? What will be its kinetic energy when its velocity is increased three times?

Given: Ek = 25 J when v = 5 m/s

We know Ek ∝ v² (since Ek = ½mv² and m is constant)

When velocity is doubled (v = 10 m/s):

New Ek = (2)² × 25 J = 4 × 25 J = 100 J

When velocity is tripled (v = 15 m/s):

New Ek = (3)² × 25 J = 9 × 25 J = 225 J

Page 123 Questions

1. What is power?

Power is defined as the rate of doing work or the rate of transfer of energy. It measures how fast or slow work is done.

Power (P) = Work done (W) / Time taken (t)

P = W/t

2. Define 1 watt of power.

1 watt is the power of an agent which does work at the rate of 1 joule per second.

1 W = 1 J/s

3. A lamp consumes 1000 J of electrical energy in 10 s. What is its power?

Energy consumed, W = 1000 J

Time taken, t = 10 s

Power, P = W/t = 1000 J / 10 s = 100 W

The power of the lamp is 100 W.

4. Define average power.

Average power is obtained by dividing the total energy consumed by the total time taken. It is useful when the power of an agent varies with time.

Average Power = Total energy consumed / Total time taken

Exercise Questions

1. Look at the activities listed below. Reason out whether or not work is done in the light of your understanding of the term 'work'.

Suma is swimming in a pond: Work is done. She applies force to push water backward and moves forward (displacement occurs).

A donkey is carrying a load on its back: No work is done (according to scientific definition) as there is no displacement in the direction of force (force is upward, displacement is horizontal).

A wind-mill is lifting water from a well: Work is done. The wind applies force to lift water against gravity (displacement occurs in the direction of force).

A green plant is carrying out photosynthesis: No work is done (according to scientific definition) as there is no displacement of object.

An engine is pulling a train: Work is done. The engine applies force and the train moves (displacement occurs in the direction of force).

Food grains are getting dried in the sun: No work is done (according to scientific definition) as there is no force causing displacement.

A sailboat is moving due to wind energy: Work is done. Wind applies force on the sail and the boat moves (displacement occurs in the direction of force).

2. An object thrown at a certain angle to the ground moves in a curved path and falls back to the ground. The initial and the final points of the path of the object lie on the same horizontal line. What is the work done by the force of gravity on the object?

Work done by gravity is zero. This is because the vertical displacement is zero (initial and final points are at the same height), and work done by gravity depends only on vertical displacement, not on the path taken.

3. A battery lights a bulb. Describe the energy changes involved in the process.

Chemical energy (in battery) → Electrical energy (in wires) → Light energy and Heat energy (in bulb)

4. Certain force acting on a 20 kg mass changes its velocity from 5 m s⁻¹ to 2 m s⁻¹. Calculate the work done by the force.

Mass, m = 20 kg

Initial velocity, u = 5 m/s

Final velocity, v = 2 m/s

Work done = Change in kinetic energy

W = ½mv² - ½mu² = ½m(v² - u²)

W = ½ × 20 × (2² - 5²) = 10 × (4 - 25) = 10 × (-21) = -210 J

The negative sign indicates that work is done against the motion.

5. A mass of 10 kg is at a point A on a table. It is moved to a point B. If the line joining A and B is horizontal, what is the work done on the object by the gravitational force? Explain your answer.

Work done by gravitational force is zero. This is because the force of gravity acts vertically downward, while the displacement is horizontal. The angle between force and displacement is 90°, and work done = Fs cosθ = Fs cos90° = Fs × 0 = 0.

6. The potential energy of a freely falling object decreases progressively. Does this violate the law of conservation of energy? Why?

No, this does not violate the law of conservation of energy. As the potential energy decreases, the kinetic energy increases by the same amount. The total mechanical energy (potential energy + kinetic energy) remains constant throughout the free fall.

7. What are the various energy transformations that occur when you are riding a bicycle?

Chemical energy (from food) → Mechanical energy (muscles) → Kinetic energy (bicycle motion) + Heat energy (friction)

8. Does the transfer of energy take place when you push a huge rock with all your might and fail to move it? Where is the energy you spend going?

No energy transfer occurs to the rock as no work is done on it (no displacement). The energy spent by the person is converted into heat energy in the muscles due to muscular effort and may also cause sweating.

9. A certain household has consumed 250 units of energy during a month. How much energy is this in joules?

1 unit of energy = 1 kilowatt-hour (kWh)

250 units = 250 kWh

1 kWh = 3.6 × 10⁶ J

250 kWh = 250 × 3.6 × 10⁶ J = 9 × 10⁸ J

10. An object of mass 40 kg is raised to a height of 5 m above the ground. What is its potential energy? If the object is allowed to fall, find its kinetic energy when it is half-way down.

Mass, m = 40 kg

Height, h = 5 m

g = 10 m/s²

Potential energy at top, Ep = mgh = 40 × 10 × 5 = 2000 J

At half-way down, height = 2.5 m

Potential energy at half-way = 40 × 10 × 2.5 = 1000 J

By conservation of energy:

Kinetic energy at half-way = Total energy - Potential energy = 2000 - 1000 = 1000 J

11. What is the work done by the force of gravity on a satellite moving round the earth? Justify your answer.

Work done by gravity on a satellite moving around the Earth is zero. This is because the gravitational force acts radially toward the center of the Earth, while the displacement of the satellite is tangential (perpendicular to the force). The angle between force and displacement is 90°, so work done = Fs cos90° = 0.

12. Can there be displacement of an object in the absence of any force acting on it? Think. Discuss this question with your friends and teacher.

Yes, according to Newton's first law of motion, an object will continue in its state of uniform motion (constant velocity) unless acted upon by an external force. So if an object is already moving with constant velocity, it will continue to move (displacement occurs) even in the absence of any net force.

13. A person holds a bundle of hay over his head for 30 minutes and gets tired. Has he done some work or not? Justify your answer.

According to the scientific definition of work, no work is done on the bundle of hay. This is because there is no displacement of the bundle in the direction of the force (the force is applied upward to support the weight, but there is no vertical displacement). The person gets tired due to muscular effort and energy consumption, but no work is done on the hay.

14. An electric heater is rated 1500 W. How much energy does it use in 10 hours?

Power, P = 1500 W = 1.5 kW

Time, t = 10 hours

Energy consumed = Power × Time = 1.5 kW × 10 h = 15 kWh

In joules: 15 kWh = 15 × 3.6 × 10⁶ J = 5.4 × 10⁷ J

15. Illustrate the law of conservation of energy by discussing the energy changes which occur when we draw a pendulum bob to one side and allow it to oscillate. Why does the bob eventually come to rest? What happens to its energy eventually? Is it a violation of the law of conservation of energy?

When a pendulum bob is drawn to one side:

  • At extreme position: Maximum potential energy, zero kinetic energy
  • When released: Potential energy converts to kinetic energy
  • At lowest point: Zero potential energy, maximum kinetic energy
  • Swinging to other side: Kinetic energy converts back to potential energy

The bob eventually comes to rest due to air resistance and friction at the pivot point, which dissipates energy as heat.

The mechanical energy (potential + kinetic) decreases but the total energy (including heat) remains constant.

This is not a violation of the law of conservation of energy - the energy is transformed, not destroyed.

16. An object of mass, m is moving with a constant velocity, v. How much work should be done on the object in order to bring the object to rest?

Work required to bring the object to rest = Change in kinetic energy

Initial kinetic energy = ½mv²

Final kinetic energy = 0 (object at rest)

Work done = 0 - ½mv² = -½mv²

The negative sign indicates work is done against the motion.

17. Calculate the work required to be done to stop a car of 1500 kg moving at a velocity of 60 km/h?

Mass, m = 1500 kg

Velocity, v = 60 km/h = 60 × (1000/3600) m/s = 50/3 m/s ≈ 16.67 m/s

Work required = Change in kinetic energy = 0 - ½mv²

W = -½ × 1500 × (50/3)² = -750 × (2500/9) = -750 × 277.78 ≈ -208,333.33 J

The negative sign indicates work is done against the motion. Magnitude of work required is approximately 208,333 J.

19. Soni says that the acceleration in an object could be zero even when several forces are acting on it. Do you agree with her? Why?

Yes, I agree with Soni. When several forces act on an object, if the net force (vector sum of all forces) is zero, then the acceleration will be zero according to Newton's second law (F = ma). This happens when forces are balanced.

20. Find the energy in joules consumed in 10 hours by four devices of power 500 W each.

Power of one device = 500 W

Power of four devices = 4 × 500 W = 2000 W = 2 kW

Time = 10 hours

Energy consumed = Power × Time = 2 kW × 10 h = 20 kWh

In joules: 20 kWh = 20 × 3.6 × 10⁶ J = 7.2 × 10⁷ J

21. A freely falling object eventually stops on reaching the ground. What happens to its kinetic energy?

When a freely falling object hits the ground and stops, its kinetic energy is transformed into other forms of energy such as:

  • Sound energy (sound of impact)
  • Heat energy (due to friction and deformation)
  • Potential energy of deformation (if the object or ground deforms)

The total energy is conserved, but the kinetic energy is converted to other forms.