CONSERVATION OF ENERGY

Mech

Name

HW-53

1. A ball of mass m falls from height ft' to height ht near the

surface of the Earth, as shown at

right. When the ball passes hi - -

hr,ithas a speed u1. Ignore air resistance.

a.

Eafth.
i. As the ball falls from hito h1, does the total energy of
Consider system S, consisting of the ball and the

l'' -

u=0

- - -

Earlh

hi

lt'

--

T,Y =;
Earth

system S increase, decrea,re, or stay the same?

Explain by considering the net work by external forces
on system S.

ii.

Consider the following discussion:

Student

l:

"The chonges to system S ore oll internoJ, so its grovitotionol potentiol

ene?gy doesn't chonge. Since the kineti c energy of the boll increoses, the

totol
Stydent

ene?gy

of system S increases."

2: .f think thot the chonge in potentiol energy of the system is zero becouse
the distoncethe boll moves is smoll compored to the size of the eorth. The
chonge in total eneryy of system 5 is equol to the chonge in kinetic energy of
the ball."

With which student, if either, do you agree? Explain.

iii. Write an expression for each of the following"quantities

and any physical constants.

If any of these

the change in kinetic energy of system

in terms of the given variables

are zero, state so explicitly.

. the change in potential energy of system S

.

the net work by external forces on system

iv.

Write an equation that relates the expressions above.

v.

Solve your equation from part iv for the final speed of the ball. Is your result consistent
with what you would obtain using kinematics and your knowledge of the acceleration due
to gravity near the Earth's surface? If not, resolve the inconsistency.

'r/

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Mech

Consentation of energy

HW-54

b.

Now consider system T, consisting of just the ball.

i.

As the ball falls from htto hr, does the total energy of system T increase, decrease, or
stay the same? Explain by considering the net work on system T.

ii.

Write an expression for each of the following quantities in terms of the given variables
and any physical constants.

the net work on system T

the change in kinetic energy of system T

o the change in potential energy of system T

iii. Consider the following

true statement about potential energy:

.Chonges

in potentiol energy ore ossocioted with chonges in shope of o system, or chonges

in relqtive positions of the objects thot moke up the system. A system consisting of o
single object thot undergoes no chorpe in shope or other internol chorges does not hove o
chonge in potential energy."

Explain how your answer to the third bullet of pag b.ii is consistent with this statement.
If it is not consistent, how could you change it to make it consistent?

c.

iv.

Write an equation that relates the three expressions from part b.ii.

v.

Solve the equation from part b.iv for the final speed of the ball.

Check that your answer to part b.v is consistent with your answer to part a.v.
the inconsistency.

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If not, resolve

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d.

Mech

Name

Conseraation of enerry

HW-55

In summary, based on work and energy considerations:

i.

Describe the effect the Earth has on the energy of system S (i,e., when the Earth ls part of
the system).

ii.

Describe the effect the Earth has on the energy of system T (i.e., when the Earth is not
part of the sYstem).

Z. A student observes an apple falling from a tree and makes the following statement:
"The Eorth exerts o f orce on the opple, the force of grovity. The Eorth does work on the opple.
I con write the following eguotion tq describe this inferoction:
oWoppu,cqrrh

.The

= AK + AUsrov

wonk done by the Eorth increoses the opple's kinetic anergY snd decneoses its potentiol

energy,n

'

What mistake is this student making? How would you colrect the student's equation?

directed up the ramp.

Imagine a system that includes the block and possibly one or more
additional objects.

a.

Is it possible to choose a system whose total energy is constant

during the interval from tt to tz? If so, state which object(s) must
be included in the sYstem, ExPlain.

Tutorials in Introductory Physics

McDermott, Shaffer, and the P.E.G., U. Wash.

@Pearson

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