Saad Dahlab University - Blida 1 Faculty of Technology
Department of Renewable Energies MCIL EnR -Thermal Conversion
Physics 1: Mechanics of the Material Point
Chapter IV: Work and Energy
I. Work of a force
I. 1. Constant force on rectilinear displacement
Let be a constant force act on a material point M. Under the effect of F , M moves between points A
and B.
By definition, the work of force F on the rectilinear displacement AB is given by:
𝑾 𝑭⃗ = 𝑭⃗ . 𝑨𝑩⃗ = 𝑭 . 𝑨𝑩 . 𝐜𝐨𝐬𝜶
α is the angle that F makes with AB .
The work unit in the MKSA system is the Joule.
Remark
The work is either positive, null or negative
depending on the direction of the force in
relation to the displacement.
I. 2. Elementary work
In the case where the force F varies during displacement, which can be of any magnitude, it is no
longer possible to use the previous expression.
We decompose the AB path into a succession of elementary displacements 𝑑𝑙⃗ = 𝑀𝑀′⃗ infinitely
small and therefore rectilinear.
On MM’, the force may be considered constant; then the basic work given is defined by:
𝒅𝑾 𝑭⃗ = 𝑭⃗ . 𝒅𝒍⃗
I. 3. Variable force on any displacement
To obtain the total work on the total displacement, it is enough to add the elementary work.
𝑩
𝑾 𝑭⃗ = 𝑭⃗ . 𝒅𝒍⃗
𝑨
Mechanics of the Material Point Chapter II: Kinematic
a- Work of the force of gravity
ℎ =𝑧 −𝑧
𝑊 𝑃⃗ = ∫ 𝑃⃗ . 𝑑𝑙⃗
and 𝑃⃗ = −𝑃𝑘⃗ , 𝑑𝑙⃗ = 𝑑𝑥𝚤⃗ + 𝑑𝑦𝚥⃗ + 𝑑𝑧𝑘⃗
𝑃⃗𝑑𝑙⃗ = −𝑃𝑑𝑧
Then : 𝑊 𝑃⃗ = ∫ 𝑃⃗ . 𝑑𝑙⃗ = ∫ ′
−𝑃𝑑𝑧 = −𝑃 𝑧 ′ −𝑧
𝑾 𝑷⃗ = −𝑷(𝒛𝑴 − 𝒛𝑴 ) = 𝑷𝒉 = 𝒎𝒈𝒉
b- Working with elastic force
𝐹⃗ = −𝑘∆𝑙 𝚤⃗ = −𝑘(𝑙 − 𝑙 )𝚤⃗ = −𝑘𝑥 𝚤⃗
𝑑𝑤 𝐹⃗ = 𝐹⃗ 𝑑𝑙⃗ = −𝑘𝑥𝚤⃗ 𝑑𝑥 𝚤⃗ = −𝑘𝑥 𝑑𝑥 = −𝑑( 𝑘𝑥 )
When F moves from position x1 to x2:
𝒙 𝒙 𝟏
𝒘 𝑭⃗ = ∫ 𝟐 𝑭⃗𝒅𝒍⃗ = ∫ 𝟐 −𝒌𝒙 𝒅𝒙 = − 𝒌(𝒙𝟐 𝟐 − 𝒙𝟏 𝟐 )
𝒙𝟏 𝒙𝟏 𝟐
II. Power of a force
The power of a force F is the relation of the work of this one to the time taken to accomplish it.
Depending on the duration considered, this power is said to be average or instantaneous.
The unit of power in the MKSA system is the Watt.
∆𝒘(𝑭⃗)
Average power: 𝑷𝒎𝒐𝒚 = ∆𝒕
𝒅𝒘(𝑭⃗)
Instantaneous power: 𝑷(𝒕) = 𝒅𝒕
III. Energy
III.1 Kinetic energy
We define the kinetic energy of a material point M, of mass m animated with a speed v, by the magnitude
𝟏
Ec, such as, 𝑬𝒄 = 𝟐 𝒎𝒗𝟐
Let be a material point M , mass m, moving between the points A and B under the action of an
external force F. According to the fundamental principle of dynamics, we have:
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Mechanics of the Material Point Chapter II: Kinematic
⃗ ⃗
∑𝐹 ⃗ = 𝑚 ⇒ 𝐹⃗ = 𝑚
⃗
𝑣⃗(𝑡) = ⇒ 𝑑𝑙⃗ = 𝑣⃗(𝑡)𝑑𝑡
The basic work of F is given by:
𝑑𝑤 𝐹⃗ = 𝐹⃗ . 𝑑𝑙⃗ = 𝑑( 𝑚𝑣 )
⃗
𝑑𝑤 𝐹⃗ = 𝐹⃗ . 𝑑𝑙⃗ = 𝑚 . 𝑣⃗ 𝑑𝑡
Work done between A and B :
𝑩 𝑩 𝟏 𝑩
𝒘 𝑭⃗ = ∫𝑨 𝑭⃗. 𝒅𝒍⃗ = ∫𝑨 𝒅 𝟐
𝒎𝒗𝟐 = ∫𝑨 𝒅𝑬𝑪 = 𝑬𝒄 (𝑩) − 𝑬𝒄 (𝑨)
Kinetic energy theorem
In a Galilean referential, the kinetic energy variation of a material point subjected to a set
of external forces between a position A and another position B is equal to the sum of the
work of these forces between these two points.
𝑬𝒄 (𝑩) − 𝑬𝒄 (𝑨) = ∑ 𝑾(𝑭𝒆𝒙𝒕⃗)
III.2 Conservative and Non-Conservative Forces
The forces are said to be conservative when their work does not depend on the path followed but on the
point of departure and the point of arrival.
Examples: force of gravity, strength of weight, spring holding force.
The forces are called non conservative or vital forces when their work depends on the path followed.
Examples : Friction force.
III.3 Energie potentielle
By definition, the work of conservative forces does not depend on the path followed but only on the
initial and final state. The work of these forces can be expressed from a potential energy:
𝑬𝒑 (𝑩) − 𝑬𝒑 (𝑨) = −𝒘(𝑭⃗𝒄 )
with Fc : conservative force.
∆𝐸 = −𝑤(𝑭⃗𝒄 )
When the variation is very small, ∆𝐸 → 𝑑𝐸𝑝
Using the notion of elementary work, we have: 𝑑𝐸𝑝 = −𝐹⃗. 𝑑𝑙⃗ (*)
On the other hand, let be the gradient ( grad ) of a function f defined by:
𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑑⃗ 𝑓 = 𝚤⃗ + 𝚥⃗ + 𝑘⃗
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Mechanics of the Material Point Chapter II: Kinematic
The total differential of f is given by: 𝑑𝑓 = 𝑑𝑥 + 𝑑𝑦 + 𝑑𝑧
We define a point M, identified in the Oxyz repository by its vector OM, such as,
𝑂𝑀⃗ = 𝑥𝚤⃗ + 𝑦𝚥⃗ + 𝑧𝑘⃗ ⇒ 𝑑𝑂𝑀⃗ = 𝑑𝑥𝚤⃗ + 𝑑𝑦𝚥⃗ + 𝑑𝑧𝑘⃗
𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑑⃗ 𝑓 . 𝑑𝑂𝑀⃗ = 𝚤⃗ + 𝚥⃗ + 𝑘⃗ . (𝑑𝑥𝚤⃗ + 𝑑𝑦𝚥⃗ + 𝑑𝑧𝑘⃗ )
𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑑⃗ 𝑓 . 𝑑𝑂𝑀⃗ = 𝑑𝑥 + 𝑑𝑦 + 𝑑𝑧
He’s coming, 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑑⃗ 𝑓 . 𝑑𝑂𝑀⃗ = 𝑑𝑓
From equation (*), one can easily notice that since
𝑑𝐸𝑝 = −𝐹⃗. 𝑑𝑙⃗ with 𝑑𝑙⃗ = 𝑑𝑥𝚤⃗ + 𝑑𝑦𝚥⃗ + 𝑑𝑧𝑘⃗
𝑭𝑪⃗ = −𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒅⃗𝑬𝒑
III.4 Examples of conservative forces
a- Gravitational force
𝐹⃗ = −𝐺 𝑢⃗
⃗
𝐹⃗ = −𝐺 because 𝑟⃗ = 𝑟. 𝑢⃗
𝐹⃗ = −𝐺 𝑟⃗
𝐹⃗ = −𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑑⃗ 𝐸𝑝 = − 𝑢⃗ ⇒ =𝐺
𝑴𝒎
𝐸𝑝(𝑟) = ∫ 𝐺 𝑑𝑟 ⇒ 𝑬𝒑(𝒓) = 𝑮 𝒓
+ 𝒄𝒔𝒕
b- Elastic force
𝐹⃗ = −𝑘𝑥𝚤⃗
𝐹⃗ = −𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑑⃗ 𝐸𝑝 = − 𝚤⃗
𝟏
= 𝑘𝑥 ⇒ 𝐸𝑝 = ∫ 𝑘𝑥𝑑𝑥 ⇒ 𝑬𝒑 = 𝟐 𝒌𝒙𝟐 + 𝒄𝒔𝒕
III.5 Mechanical energy
Either a moving system, between the points A and B under the effect of conservative and non
conservative forces. According to the kinetic energy theorem, we have:
𝑬𝑪 (𝑩) − 𝑬𝑪 (𝑨) = 𝒘 𝑭𝑪⃗ + 𝒘 𝑭𝑵𝑪⃗
Fc : Conservative force
FNC : Non conservative force
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Mechanics of the Material Point Chapter II: Kinematic
𝐸 (𝐵) − 𝐸 (𝐴) = − 𝐸𝑝(𝐵) − 𝐸𝑝(𝐴) + ∑ 𝑤 𝐹 ⃗
Then , ∑ 𝑤 𝐹⃗ = 𝐸𝑝(𝐵) − 𝐸𝑝(𝐴)
since 𝐸𝑐(𝐵) + 𝐸𝑝(𝐵) − 𝐸𝑐(𝐴) + 𝐸𝑝(𝐴) = ∑ 𝑤 𝐹 ⃗
We introduce a new quantity that we will call Total Energy of the system Symbolized by EM, such as,
𝑬 = 𝑬𝒄 + 𝑬𝒑 = 𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒄 𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒓𝒈𝒚 + 𝒑𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒂𝒍 𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒓𝒈𝒚
Theorem of total mechanical energy
The variation of the total mechanical energy of a system, in motion between two
points A et B, is equal to the sum of the work of the non conservative external forces
applied to this system, 𝐸 (𝐵) − 𝐸 (𝐴) = ∑ 𝑤 𝐹 ⃗
However, when the system is isolated (that is, it does not undergo any non
conservative external force) the total energy is conserved.
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