Conservation of Energy with Examples

CONSERVATION OF ENERGY THEOREM

Nothing can be destroyed or created in the universe like energy. Suppose that a ball falls from
height of 2m, it has only potential energy at the beginning, however, as it falls it gains kinetic energy and
its velocity increases. When it hits the ground it has only kinetic energy. Well, where is the potential
energy that it has at the beginning? It is totally converted to the kinetic energy, as said in the first
sentence nothing can be destroyed or created they just change form. Thus, our potential energy also
changes its forms from potential to the kinetic energy. In summary, energy of the system is always
constant, they can change their forms but amount of total energy does not change.
Picture shows the energy change of the ball. It has only potential energy 2mgh at the beginning.
When it starts to lose height it gains velocity in other word decreasing in the amount of potential energy
increases the amount of kinetic energy. At h height it has both potential and kinetic energy and when it
hits the ground the potential energy becomes zero and kinetic energy has its maximum value.
Einitial = Efinal
Example: By using the given information in picture given beloww, find the velocity of the ball at point D.














Ei=Ef (conservation of energy)
mg3h=mg2h+1/2mv
mgh=1/2mv
v=2gh
Example: A block having mass 2kg and velocity 2m/s slide on the inclined plane. If the horizontal surface
has friction constant =0, 4 find the distance it travels in horizontal before it stops.













We use conservation of energy in solution of this problem.
Einitial=Efinal
Einitial=Ep+Ek=mgh+1/2mv Efinal=0
Einitial=2kg.10m/s.8m+1/2.2kg. (2m/s) Work done by friction=Einitial Einitial=164joule
Wfriction=.N.X=0,4.2kg.10m/s.X=Ei
8. X=164joule X=20,5m
Block slides 20,5m in horizontal


Example: Find the final velocity of the box from the given picture.












We again use the conservation of energy theorem.
Einitial must be equal to the Efinal.
Einitial=Ek=1/2mv Efinal=Ek+Ep=1/2mv+mgh
Ei=1/2.2kg.(10m/s) =100joule Efinal=1/2.2kg.v+2kg.10m/s.4m=80+v
100=80+v v=25m/s
Example: Find the amount of compression of the spring if the ball does free fall from 4m and compresses
the spring.
















From the conservation of energy law we can find the amount of springs compression.
Ep=1/2.kx for spring
X=1/4m
Ball compresses the spring 1/4m.










Question: The figure shows the simple pendulum, which starts oscillating from the extreme position A.
Show that the speed of the pendulum when it passes the mean position B is where 'h' is the
distance through which the bob of the pendulum is displaced from the mean position.

Answer: When the pendulum is at A it possesses potential energy and the initial velocity is zero. The
pendulum attains maximum velocity at the mean position.
We make use of the III equation of motion.

Here, u = 0, a = g and S = h



The speed of the pendulum as it passes the mean position is
Question 23


Question: How fast should a man of mass 50 kg run, so that his kinetic energy is 625 J?
Answer:






Question 24


Question: Two bodies of equal mass are kept at a height of 'h' and '3h'. What is the ratio of their
gravitational potential energies?
Answer: Potential energy (P.E.) = mgh
P.E. (1) = mgh
P.E. (2) = mg3h

\ P.E. (1) : P.E. (2) = 1 : 3
Question 25

Question: A boy spends 800 J of energy while lifting a body of mass 40 kg from a well. Calculate the
depth of the well. Given g = 10 m/s
2
.
Answer: The energy spent is equal to potential energy as the object is lifted through a certain height.
Potential energy = 800 J
Mass of body lifted (m) = 40 kg
Potential energy = mgh



Question 26


Question: A nail becomes warm when it is hammered into a plank. Explain why.
Answer: A raised hammer has potential energy due to its position above the ground. When the
hammer comes down and strikes the head of the nail, the potential energy is transformed into kinetic
energy. If we continue hitting the nail to secure it, the kinetic energy of the hammer is transferred to the
molecules of the material of the nail. The heat content of the body is the total energy that the body
possesses. Hence, as the heat content of the body increases, the nail becomes warm.
Question 27


Question: Calculate the height of a building if 20,000 J of energy is required to lift 200 kg of water from
a well to a tank on the top of the building. Given g = 10 m/s
2
.
Answer: Work done in lifting water = potential energy = mgh
Mass of water (m) = 200 kg
g = 10 m/s
2

Potential energy = 20,000 J


= 10 m
Height of the building = 10 m
Question 28


Question: Define potential energy and derive an expression for it.
Answer: Potential energy of an object can be defined as the energy possessed by the object by virtue
of its position or condition.
Expression for potential energy

Consider an object of mass 'm', raised through a height 'h' above the earth's surface. The work done
against gravity gets stored in the object as its potential energy.
Therefore, potential energy = work done in raising the object through a height 'h'
Potential energy = F x S ...(1)
But F = mg (according to Newton's second law of motion)
S = h
Substituting for F and S in equation 1, we get
Potential energy = mgh<
Question 29
Question: a) State law of conservation of energy.
b) A stone of mass 10 g placed at the top of a tower 50 m high is allowed to fall freely. Show that law of
conservation of energy holds good in the case of the stone.
Answer: a) Energy can neither be created nor destroyed but can be transformed from one form to
another.
b)

In this case we have to prove that total energy at A, B and C is the same.


Height = 50 m
Potential energy at A = mgh
= 0.01 x 9.8 x 50
= 0.01 x 98 x 5
= 4.9 J

= 0


Total energy at A = potential energy + kinetic energy= 4.9 + 0
Total energy at A = 4.9 J ...(1)
At B
Height from the ground = 40 m
Potential energy = mgh
= 0.01 x 9.8 x 40
= 0.01 x 98 x 4
Potential energy at B = 3.92 J

To calculate v we make use of III equation of motion,

Here, u = 0, a = 9.8 m/s
2
and S = 10 m





= 0.98 J
Total energy at B = potential energy + kinetic energy

= 3.92 + 0.98
Total energy at B = 4.90 J (2)
At C
Height from the ground = 0
Potential energy at C = mgh


To calculate v we use III equation of motion,

Here, u = 0, a = 9.8m/s
2
and S = 50 m




= 4.9 J
Total energy at C = potential energy + kinetic energy
= 0 + 4.9
Total energy at C = 4.9 J (3)
The total energy at A, B and C is 4.9 J. This means that law of conservation of energy holds good in the
case of a stone falling freely under gravity.
Question 30
Question: In hydroelectric power plant, water falls at a rate of 1000 kg/s from a height of 100 m.
Assuming that 60% of the energy of falling water is converted into electrical energy, calculate the power
generated per second.
Answer: Mass of water (m) =1000 kg
Height (h) =100 m
Energy possessed by water = potential energy = mgh



Total energy generated = 980000 J
Out of this total energy only 60% is converted to electrical energy.


= 588000 J

Time = 1 s