PROBLEMS ON

WORK AND ENERGY

PRINCIPLE
PROBLEMS
1. The 0.8 kg collar slides with negligible friction on the
fixed rod in the vertical plane. If the collar starts from
rest at A under the action of the constant 8-N horizontal
force, calculate its velocity v as it hits the stop at B.
(3/100)
PROBLEMS m = 0.8 kg, v0 = 0, P = 8 N (cst), vB = ?

T1  U1 2  T2 U12  
P (0.75)  7.85 (0.375)
T1  0
8

 6  2.94  8.94 J
1 2 1
T2  mvB  0.8vB2  0  8.94  0.4vB2
2 2

vB  4.73 m / s mg = 0.8(9.81) =7.85 N

P=8 N

N
PROBLEMS
2. The system is
released from rest
with no slack in the
cable and with the
spring stretched 200
mm. Determine the
distance s traveled by
the 10-kg cart before
it comes to rest (a) if
m approaches zero
and (b) if m = 2 kg.
Assume no mechanical
interference.
(3/108)
PROBLEMS
v0 = 0, m = 10 kg, x = 200 mm, determine distance s traveled
by the cart before it comes to rest (a) if m approaches zero
and (b) if m = 2 kg.

(a)
T1  U1 2  T2 , T1  0
1  
2
s cable length
m A g s sin 25  k  0.2    0.2 
2
U1 2 
98.1
2 125 2  L  s  2y
T2  0 s
 y

41.46 s  62.5 0.04  0.2s  0.25s 2  0.2 2  0
  
  2
0.25s 2  0.2 s mg = 10(9.81) =98.1 N
 15.625s 2  28.96 s  0 A
s
y
s  1.853 m N
B
mg

Fspring
PROBLEMS
v0 = 0, m = 10 kg, x = 200 mm, determine distance s traveled
by the cart before it comes to rest (a) if m approaches zero
and (b) if m = 2 kg.
(b)
T1  U1 2  T2 , T1  0 , T2  0
 2
 cable length
s 1  s
m A g s sin 25  m  k  0.2    0.2 
2
U1 2   Bg L  s  2y
98.1 19.62
2 2  2 
s
 y
2
41.46 s  9.81s  15.625s 2  12.5s  0
15.625s  19.15 mg = 10(9.81) =98.1 N

A
s
s  1.226 m y
N
B
mg

Fspring
PROBLEMS
3. The nest of two springs is used to bring the 0.5 kg
plunger A to a stop from a speed of 5 m/s and reverse its
direction of motion. The inner spring increases the
deceleration and the adjustment of its position is used to
control the exact point at which the reversal takes place. If
this point is to correspond to a maximum deflection d = 200
mm for the outer spring, specify the adjustment of the
inner spring by determining the distance s. The outer spring
has a stiffness of 300 N/m and the inner one a stiffness of
150 N/m.
PROBLEMS
m = 0.5 kg plunger A to a stop from a speed of 5 m/s, d = 200 mm
(outer spring), specify the adjustment of the inner spring by
determining the distance s. kouter = 300 N/m, kinner = 150 N/m.
Fspring

Fouter
W=mg Finner
x
Fouter
s x d
1 2 1
Finner T1  U12  T2 , T1  mv  (0.5)52  6.25 J
2 2
N
T2  0 (v2  0)
motion
Fouter  kx  300 x , Finner  kx  150( x  s)  150 x  150s

0.2 0.2
d d d x2
x2
0.2
U1 2  300  xdx  150  xdx  150s  dx  300  150  150sx s
0 s s 2 2
0 s
 150(0.2) 2  75(0.2) 2  75s 2  150s(0.2)  150s 2  6  3  75s 2  30s  150s 2
 75s 2  30s  9
s1  0.1423 m s2  0.2577 m (cannot be greater than d )
PROBLEMS
4. Calculate the horizontal velocity v with which the 20
kg carriage must strike the spring in order to compress it
a maximum of 100 mm. The spring is known as a
“hardening” spring, since its stiffness increases with
deflection as shown in the accompanying graph.
PROBLEMS v = ? m = 20 kg, d = 100 mm.
motion
W=mg
Fspring

T1  U1 2  T2

   
0.1
1
(20) v   20 x 2  10 x 103 dx  0
2
2 0

 
0.1
2  20 3 2
10 v   x  5 x  103  0
3 0
v  2.38 m / s
PROBLEMS
5. Two blocks are
connected by a light
inextensible cord, which
passes around small, +y
massless pulleys. If block B
B is pulled down 500 mm
10 kg
from the equilibrium
position and released A 2 kg
from rest, determine its
speed when it returns to k = 800 N/m
the equilibrium position.
PROBLEMS block B pulled down 500 mm from the equilibrium position, v0 = 0,
determine its speed when it returns to the equilibrium position.

Length of the cord, l = yB+2yA=constant, vB +2vA = 0, aB + 2aA = 0

In equilibrium position,
Block A
Block B
T
F y  maA  0
 Fy  maB  0
2T
Fsp  WA  2T  0
B A +y
T  98.1 N Fsp  2T  WA 
B
WB  m B g
Fsp 2(98.1)  19.62
WA  mA g  2 (9.81)  19.62 N 10 kg
 10 (9.81)  98.1 N Fsp  176.59 N
A 2 kg
When the system is in equilibrium, the amount of spring deformation,
Fsp 176.59
Fsp  kx , x    0.2207 m k = 800 N/m
k 800
Work – energy equation of the system,

U1 2  T  Ve  Vg T  T2  T1  T2 A  T2 B  T1 A  T1B

 
0

T2 A 
1
(2)v A2  v A2  0.25vB2 v A  vB / 2 T2 B 
1
(10)vB2  5vB2
2 2
T  5.25vB2
PROBLEMS block B pulled down 500 mm from the equilibrium position, v0 = 0,
determine its speed when it returns to the equilibrium position.
U12  0
Since the cord is inextensible, the work done by the tension force cancels out when the work is
added up for both particles.

V g  V g 2  V g1  V g 2 A  V g 2 B  V g1A  V g1B

0
l = yB+2yA=constant +y
B
A mg h2  h1   2(9.81)0  0.25  4.905 J
10 kg
B mg h2  h1   10(9.81)0  (0.5)   49.05 J A 2 kg
V g  4.905  49.05  44.145 J

 
k = 800 N/m
1
Ve  Ve 2  Ve1  k x22  x12
2
 
 (800) 0.2207 2  0.2207  0.252  69.14 J
1
2
0  5.25v B2  69.14  44.145 5.25v B2  24.995
v B  2.18 m / s
PROBLEMS
6. The spring has an unstretched length of 625 mm. If
the system is released from rest in the position shown,
determine the
speed v of the
ball (a) when
it has dropped
a vertical
distance of
250 mm and
(b) when the
rod has
rotated 35°.
(3/155)
PROBLEMS l0 = 625 mm, v0 = 0, v = ? (a) d = 250 mm (b) when the rod has
rotated 35°.

  arctan 600
250   22.6 

  90    67.4

L1  2(0.650) sin  0.721 m
2
x1  L1  0.625  0.0961 m

(a) U12  T  Vg  Ve

1 2 1
Fspring W=mg U1 2  0 , T  T2  T1  mv 2  0  4v22  2v22
2 2
V g  V g 2  V g1  mgh
l2
650 mm
 mg (h2  h1 )  4(9.81)( 0  0.25)  9.81 J

650 mm
motion 1
2
1
2
 1

Ve  kx 2  k x22  x12  210 x22  x12
2
 
 105(0.294 2  0.09612 )  8.106 J
0  2v22  9.81  8.106 , v2  0.923 m / s
l2  650  650  919.24 mm
2 2

x2  0.919  0.625  0.294 m

PROBLEMS l0 = 625 mm, v0 = 0, v = ? (a) d = 250 mm (b) when the rod has
rotated 35°.

  22.6
L1  0.721 m , x1  0.0961 m
(b)
U13  T  Vg  Ve
h3  0.25  0.650 sin12.4  0.390 m
Fspring W=mg
1 2 1
U13  0 , T  T3  T1  mv3  0  4v32  2v32
l3 2 2
650 mm V  V g 3  V g1  mgh
motion g
 mg (h3  h1 )  4(9.81)( 0.39)  15.304 J
35°
22.6°
12.4°
1 1
 1
Ve  kx 2  k x32  x12  210 x32  x12
2 2 2
 
 105(0.388 2  0.09612 )  14.837 J
l32  650  650  2(650)( 650) cos 102.4
2 2

 1013.14 mm 0  2v32  15.304  14.837 , v3  0.483 m / s

x3  1.013  0.625  0.388 m
PROBLEMS
7. The cars of an amusement-park ride have a speed v1 =
90 km/h at the lowest part of the track. Determine their
speed v2 at the highest part of the track. Neglect energy
loss due to friction. Give careful thought to the change in
potental energy of the system of cars. (3/164)
PROBLEMS v1 = 90 km/h (lowest part),v2= ?(highest part)
90 km / h  25 m / s
m = be the total v2
mass of train
2 2r 2 2 (15)
For the whole train r  G
 
 13.50 m r
U12  T  Vg  Ve W = mg

U1 2  0 r
T  T2  T1 G
1

 m v22  v12
2
 W = mg
v1
1
2
 1

 m v22  25 2  mv 22  312.5m
2
Ve  0 , Vg  mgh  mg h2  h1   9.81m(2) r  264.87m
13.50
1 2
0 m v2  312.5m
  264.87m
 , v2  9.76 m / s (35.14 km / h)
2
PROBLEMS
8. The 3 kg sphere is carried by the parallelogram linkage
where the spring is unstretched when q = 90°. If the
mechanism is released from rest at q = 90°, calculate the
velocity v of the
sphere when the
position q = 135°
is passed. The
links are in the
vertical plane,
and their mass is
small and may be
neglected.
(3/169)
PROBLEMS
q = 90°
k = 100 N/m, m = 3 kg, at q = 90° spring unstretsched, v 1 =0
at q = 90, v = ? at q = 135°.
B
initial length of spring

l0  500 2  500 2
 707.11 mm
W = mg
Fspring
A
500 mm final length of spring
l 2  500 2  500 2  2(500)(500) cos 135
l  923.88 mm
x2  923.88  707.11  216.77 mm
U1 2  T  V g  Ve , U1 2  0
q = 135°
1 1
T  T2  T1  mv 22  (3)v22  1.5v22
500 sin45 2 2
V g  mg h2  h1   3(9.81)( 0.354  0.5)  4.30 J
=353.5 mm

q = 135°
Ve 
1
2
  1
k x22  x 12  (100)0.217 2  2.35 J
2
0  1.5v22  4.30  2.35 , 1.5v22  1.95 , v2  1.14 m / s
PROBLEMS
9. The system shown is in equilibrium when f = 0°.
Initially when block C is in a state of rest at f = 90°,
it is given a slight push. Determine the velocity of
the block as it passes from the position where f =37o.
Neglect the mass of the light rod.

300 mm k=8 kN/m

A
f
B
C 10 kg
600
100 mm
100 mm mm
PROBLEMS system in equilibrium at f = 0°, initially block C at rest at
f = 90°, determine velocity of block at f =37o.

300 mm k=8 kN/m

A
f
B
C 10 kg
600
100 mm
100 mm mm