CHAPTER 11 - WORK AND ENERGY

In text question – Page 148

1. A force of 7 N acts on an object. The displacement is, say 8 m, in the direction of the force (Fig. 11.3).
Let us take it that the force acts on the object through the displacement. What is the work done in this
case?

ANS: IN THE NOTE BOOK

In text question – Page 149

1. When do we say that work is done?

Ans: Work is said to be done by a force acting on the object when an object is displaced along the
direction of force.

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

Ans: Work done = Force x Displacement

W= Fs

3. Define 1 J of work.

Ans: 1 J is the amount of work done on an object when a force of 1 N displaces it by 1 m along the line of
action of the force.

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?

ANS: IN THE NOTE BOOK

In text question – Page 152

1. What is the kinetic energy of an object?

Ans: The energy possessed by an object by virtue of its motion is called its kinetic energy.

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

Ans: The kinetic energy possessed by an object of mass m moving with a uniform velocity v is

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?

ANS: IN THE NOTE BOOK

In text question – Page 156

1. What is power?

Ans: Power is defined as the rate of doing work or the rate of transfer of energy.

2. Define 1 watt of power.

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

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

ANS: IN THE NOTE BOOK

4. Define average power

Ans: Average power of an agent may be defined as the total energy consumed divided by total time
taken.

Average Power = Total energy consumed

Total time taken

EXERCISE QUESTIONS – PAGE 158 / 159

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’.

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• Suma is swimming in a pond.

Ans: Yes, Suma is doing work by pushing water in the backward direction.

• A donkey is carrying a load on its back.

Ans: NO, because the force exerted by donkey in the upward direction is perpendicular to the horizontal
displacement of the load.

• A wind-mill is lifting water from a well.

Ans: Yes, work is done in lifting water against the force of gravity

• A green plant is carrying out photosynthesis.

Ans: No, because the leaves of plants remain at rest during photosynthesis

• An engine is pulling a train.

Ans: Yes, engine is doing work in pulling the train

• Food grains are getting dried in the sun.

Ans: No, because food grains remain at rest.

• A sailboat is moving due to wind energy.

Ans: Yes, work is done by the wind in moving the sail boat.

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?

Ans ZERO. This is because the net displacement of the object is in the horizontal direction while the
force of gravity acts in the vertical downward direction.

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

Ans: First the battery converts chemical energy into electrical energy. Then the bulb converts electrical
energy into heat and light.

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.

ANS: IN THE NOTE BOOK

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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.

Ans: Displacement AB is horizontal. Force of gravitation acts vertically downwards, so, force acts
perpendicular to displacement. Therefore, work done is zero.

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

Ans: No, the law of conservation of energy is not violated. The loss in potential energy appears as an
equal gain in kinetic energy of the object.

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

Ans: We use our muscular energy in pulling the bicycle, so, our muscular energy changes into kinetic
energy. A part of the muscular energy is used in doing work against friction on the road. This part of the
muscular energy changes into heat.

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?

Ans: Yes, we transfer our muscular energy while pushing the rock.This energy is entirely spent in doing
work against friction between the rock and the ground.

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

ANS: IN THE NOTE BOOK

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.

ANS: IN THE NOTE BOOK

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

Ans: Zero, when a satellite moves around the earth in a circular path, the force of gravity acts on it
directed towards the center. The motion of the satellite is in the horizontal plane, therefore, the force of
gravity of the earth on the satellite and the direction of motion of satellite arre perpendicular to each
other, therefore, work done is zero

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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.

Ans: Yes, there can be a displacement of an object in the absence of any force acting on it. We know
that F = m x a. When force F = 0, then m x a = 0. Mass m cannot be 0. Therefore, when force F = 0, then
acceleration a = 0. In such a situation, either the object is at rest (not moving) or it is in uniform motion
in a straight line. In the latter case, there is a displacement of the object without any force acting on it.

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.

Ans: No work is done. The bundle of hay remains stationary , i.e displacement is zero, so the work done
is also zero.

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

ANS: IN THE NOTE BOOK

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?

Ans:

As shown in the figure, a simple pendulum consists of a spherical metal bob suspended by a thread
from a fixed support. As the bob is displaced to end A, it gains potential energy. As it is released from
rest, its kinetic energy begins to increase. At an intermediate position like C, the energy is partly kinetic
and partly potential. At mean position O, energy is totally kinetic. At the end B, again the energy
becomes totally potential. Total mechanical energy remains constant at all points.

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The energy of the body is gradually used in doing work against the force of friction at the point of
suspension and also against friction of air. The energy spent is converted into heat. There is no violation
of conservation of energy. Due to decrease in the energy of the bob, its amplitude of oscillation
decreases with time and eventually comes to rest.

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?

ANS: IN THE NOTE BOOK

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

ANS: IN THE NOTE BOOK

18. In each of the following a force, F is acting on an object of mass, m. The direction of displacement is
from west to east shown by the longer arrow. Observe the diagrams carefully and state whether the
work done by the force is negative, positive or zero.

ANS: IN THE NOTE BOOK

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?

Ans: Yes, Sony is right because if the several forces acting on an object are balanced forces, their
resultant is zero, then there is no acceleration of the object.

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

ANS: IN THE NOTE BOOK

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

Ans: When a freely falling object having kinetic energy hits the ground ad eventually stops,then:

1. Some of the kinetic energy is converted into sound energy (due to which a sound is produced
when the falling object hits the ground).
2. Some of the kinetic energy is changed into heat energy (due to which the falling object and the
ground where it falls become slightly warm).
3. Some of the kinetic energy is transformed into potential energy of configuration of the object
and the ground (because the object and the ground get deformed a little bit at the point of their
collision).