WORK, ENERGY AND POWER

WORK DONE BY A CONSTANT FORCE

Consider a particle, that undergoes a displacement r along a straight line while upon acted by a constant force

F that makes an angle  with r as shown in figure.

F cos 

r
 
The work ‘W’ done by a constant force F acting on a particle is equal to the product of the component of F
along the direction of the displacement of the particle and the magnitude of the displacment (r ) .
Mathematically,
W  F cos  . r (from Figure)
 
= F . r (Applying a . b  ab cos  )

Work is a scalar quantity. Its unit is Joule.

(i) Force does not work if point of application of force does not move (  r = 0)

(ii) Work done by a force is zero if displacement is perpendicular to the force ( = 900)

(iii) If the angle between the force and the displacement is acute ( < 900), we say that work done by the
force is positive.

(iv) If the angle between the force and the displacement is obtuse ( > 900), we say that work done by
the force is negative.

(v) Work done depends on the frame of reference. With the change of the frame of reference inertial
force does not change while displacement may change.

WORK DONE BY A VARIABLE FORCE

Consider a particle being displaced along the x-axis under the action of a varying force, as shown in the figure.
The particle is displaced in the direction of increasing x from x = xi to x = xf. In such a situation, we cannot use
W = (F cos )r to calculate the work done by the force because this relationship applies only when F is constant
in magnitude and direction. However, if we imagine that the particle undergoes a very small displacement x,
shown in the figure (1), then the x component of the force, Fx, is approximately constant over this interval, and
we can express the work done by the force for this small displacement as
W1 = Fx x
 Area = A = Fx x
Fx Fx

Fx

xi xf x xi xf x
x

(1) (2)

Thus is just the area of the shaded rectangle in the figure (1). If we imagine that the Fx versus x curve is divided
into a large number of such intervals, then the total work done for the displacement from xi to xf is approxi-
mately equal to the sum of a large number of such terms.
xf

W=  F x
xi
x

If the displacements are allowed to approach zero, then the number of terms in the sum increases without limit
but the value of the sum approaches a definite value equal to the area under the curve bounded by Fx and the x-
axis.
xf xf

lim  Fx x   F dxx
x 0
xi xi

This definite integral is numerically equal to the area under the Fx versus x curve between xi and xf. There-
fore, we can express the work done by Fx for the displacement of the object from xi to xf as
xf

W=  F dx
xi
x

when Fx = F cos is constant.

If more than one force acts on a particle, the total work done is just the work done by the resultant force. For
systems that do not act as particles, work must be found for each force separately. If we express the resultant
force in the x-direction as Fx, then the net work done as the particle moves from xi to xf is
xf

Wnet =   F dx
xi
x

Illustration:
A chain of mass m = 0.80 kg and length  = 1.5 m rests on a rough - surfaced table so that one of its
ends hangs over the edge. The chain starts sliding off the table all by itself provided the over hanging
part equals n = 1/3 of the chain length. What will be the total work performed by the friction forces
acting on the chain by the moment it slides completely off the table ?

Solution:
Slipping occurs when the weight of hanging part is just sufficient to overcome the frictional force
exerted by the table. Let µ be the coefficient of friction between chain and table.
Weight of hanging part = µ (weight of horizontal part)
 nmg = µ (1 – n) mg
n
µ= . . . . . . (i)
1 n
Let x be the length of the hanging part at some time instant.
frictional force f(x) = µ (normal reaction)
µ(  x ) mg
=

The work done by the frictional force if the hanging part increases to (x + dx) is :
dW = – f (x) dx
µ(  x ) mg

W =  dW = – n 
dx


µmg  x2 
W=–  x  
  2  n

  2 
W = – µ mg (1  n )  (1  n )
 2 
Substituting the value of µ from (i), we get :
n (1  n ) mg
W=– = – 1.3 J.
2

WORK DONE BY A SPRING

Consider the situation shown in figure. One end of a spring is attached to a fixed vertical support and the other
end to a block which can move on a horizontal table. Let x = 0 denote the position of the block when the spring
is in its natural length. We shall calculate the work done on the block by the spring-force as the block moves
from x = 0 to x = x1.

x=0 x = x1

A A
The force on the block is k times the elongation of the spring. But the elongation changes as the block moves
and so does the force. We cannot take F out of the integration  F d r . We have to write the work done during
a small interval in which the block moves from x to x + dx. The force in this interval is kx and the displacement
is dx. The force and displacement are opposite in direction.
So, F . d r = -F dx = - kx dx
during this interval. The total work done as the block is placed from x = 0 to x = x1 is
x1 1 x
 1 2 1 2
W=   kxdx  
 2 kx    2 kx1
0 0

If the block moves from x = x1 to x = x2, the limits of integration are x1 and x2 and the work done is
1 2 1 2
W =  kx1  kx 2 
2 2 
Note that if the block is displaced from x1 and x2 and brought back to x = x1, the work done by the spring-
force is zero. The work done during the return journey is negative of the work during the onward journey.
The net work done by the spring-force in a round trip is zero.

Illustration:

A block of mass m has a velocity v0 when it just touches a spring. The block moves through a distance l before
it stops after. The spring constant is k. What is the work done on it by the spring force?

Solution :

The net force acting on the block by the spring is equal to Fspring = – kx
Work done by the spring = -Fspring.ds
l
 kl 2
= -  kx.dx 
0
2 v0 k
m

WORK DEPENDS ON THE FRAME OF REFERENCE

Work done by a force is given as


W  F.S

Since S displacement of point of application is frame dependent phenomena work is frame
dependent quantity, same force may do different work in different frames

Illustration :
Over a horizontal plank a small block of mass m is lying at rest. Now plank is moved with
constant acceleration a such that there is no relative motion between block and plank. Find the work
done by friction of plank on block in first t seconds.
(a) in ground frame
(b) in plank frame.
m
Solution: a
(a) In ground frame
Friction force acting on the block (f) = ma
Displacement in first t second
1 2
S at
2 a
1 2  f
Work done = F.S. = f  at 
2 
1 2 1
2 2
= ma . at  ma t
2 2 FP(=ma)
(b) In plank frame f = ma f
But displacement s = 0
(because there is no relative motion between plank and block)
  W = F.S.
=f.s
= ma . 0
=0

Note: While calculating net work done on a body in accelerated frame work done by pseudo
force need to be taken into account.

WORK-ENERGY THEOREM

If the work done by the net force on a particle can be calculated for a given displacement, the change in the
particle's speed will be easy to evaluate.

As shown in the figure a particle of mass m moving to the right under the action of a constant net force F.
Because the force is constant, we know Newton's second law that the particle will move with a constant
acceleration a. If the particle is displaced a distance s, the net work done by the force F is

Wnet = Fs = (ma)s

We found that the following relationships are valid when a particle moves at constant acceleration

m F

vi vf

1 v  vi
s= (vi  v f )t ; a = f
2 t

where vi is the speed at t = 0 and vf is the speed at time t. Substituting these expressions

 v f  vi 1
Wnet = m   (vi  v f )t
 t 2
1 2 1
Wnet = mv f  mvi2
2 2
Wnet = Kf - Ki = K . . . . (i)

That is, the work done by the constant force Fnet in displacing a particle equals the change in kinetic energy
of the particle.

Equation (i) is an important result known as the work-energy theorem. For convenience, it was derived
under the assumption that the net force acting on the particle was constant.

Now, we shall show that the work-energy theorem is valid even when the force is varying. If the resultant
force acting on a body in the x direction is Fx, then Newton's second law states that

Fx = max. Thus, we express the net work done as

 xf xf

Wnet =   F dx   ma dx
xi
x
xi

Because the resultant force varies with x, the acceleration and speed also depend on x. We can now use the
following chain rule to evaluate Wnet.
dv dv dx dv
a=  v
dt dx dt dx
1 2 1
Wnet = mv f  mvi2
2 2

Illustration:
A bullet leaving the muzzle of a rifle barrel with a velocity v penetrates a plank and loses one fifth of
its velocity. It then strikes second plank, which it just penetrates through. Find the ratio of the thickness
of the planks supposing average resistance to the penetration is same in both the cases.

Solution:
Let R = resistance force offered by the planks,
t1 = thickness of first plank,
t2 = thickness of second plank.
For first plank :
Loss in KE = work against resistance
1 1 4
mv2 – m ( v)2 = Rt1
2 2 5

1  9 
 mv2   = Rt1 .................(i)
2  25 
For second plank
1 4
m ( v)2 – 0 = Rt2
2 5

1  16 
 mv2   = Rt2 .................(ii)
2  25 

t1 9
dividing (I) & (II)  t = .
2 16

POTENTIAL ENERGY AND CONSERVATION OF MECHANICAL ENERGY

We define the change in potential energy of a system corresponding to a conservative internal force as
f

Uf - Ui = -W = -  F.d r
i

where W is the work done by the internal force on the system as the system passes from the initial configu-
ration i to the final configuration f.
Note: We don't (or can't) define potential energy corresponding to a nonconservative internal
force.

Suppose only conservative internal forces operate between the parts of the system and the potential energy U
is defined corresponding to these forces. There are either no external forces or the work done by the them is
zero. We have
Uf - Ui = -W = -(Kf - Ki)
or Uf + Kf = Ui + Ki . . . . . (i)

The sum of the kinetic energy and the potential energy is called the total mechanical energy. We see from
equation (i) that the total mechanical energy of a system remains constant if the internal forces are conser-
vative and the external forces do not work. This is called the principle of conservation of mechanical energy.

The total mechanical energy K + U is not constant if nonconservative forces, such as friction, act between
the parts of the system. We can't apply the principle of conservation of energy in presence of
nonconservative forces. The work-energy theorem is still valid even in the presence of nonconservative
forces.

Note: that only a change in potential energy is defined above. We are free to choose the zero potential
energy in any configuration just as we are free to choose the origin in space anywhere we like.

Brain Teaser: One persons says that the potiential energy of a particular book kept in an almirah is 20 J and
the other says it is 30 J. Is one of them necessarily wrong?

If nonconservative internal forces operate within the system, or external forces do work on the system, the
mechanical energy changes as the configuration changes. According to the work-energy theorem, the work
done by all the forces equals the change in the kinetic energy. Thus,
Wc + Wnc + Wext = Kf - Ki
where the three terms on the left denote the work done by the conservative internal forces, nonconservative
internal forces and the external forces.
As Wc = -(Uf - Ui),
We get Wnc + Wext = (Kf + Uf) - (Ki + Ui)
= Ef - Ei . . . . . (ii)
Where E = K + U is the total mechanical energy.

If the internal forces are conservative but external forces also act on the system and they do work, Wnc = 0
and from (ii)
Wext = Ef - Ei . . . . .(iii)
The work done by the external forces equals the change in the mechanical energy of the system.

Let us summarise the concepts developed so far in this chapter.

(1) Work done on a particle is equal to the change in its kinetic energy.
(2) Work done on a system by all the (external and internal) forces is equal to the change in its kinetic
energy.
(3) A force is called conservative if the work done by it during a round trip of a system is always zero. The
force of gravitation, Coulomb force, force by a spring etc. are conservative. If the work done by it
during a round trip is not zero, the force is nonconservative. Friction is an example of nonconservative
force.
(4) The change in the potential energy of a system corresponding to conservative internal forces is equal
to negative of the work done by these forces.
(5) If no external forces act (or the work done by them is zero) and the internal forces are conserva-
 tive, the mechanical energy of the system remains constant. This is known as the principle of
conservation of mechanical energy.

(6) If some of the internal forces are nonconservative, the mechanical energy of the system is not con-
stant.

(7) If the internal forces are conservative, the work done by the external forces is equal to the change in
mechanical energy.

Brain Teaser: When you lift a box from the floor and put it on an almirah the potential energy of the box
increases, but there is no change in its kinetic energy. Is it a violation of conservation of en-
ergy?

Illustration:
In the figure shown stiffness is k and mass of the block is m. The pulley is fixed. Initially
the block m is held such that, the elongation in the spring is zero and then released from rest.
Find the maximum elongation in the spring
Neglect the mass of the spring, pulley and that of the string.
m m
Solution:
Let the maximum elongation in the spring be x, when the block is at position 2.
The displacement of the block m is also x. If E1 and E2 are the energies of the system
when the block is at position 1 and 2 respectively. Then
E1 = U1g + U1s + T1
where U1g = gravitational P.E. with respect to surface S.
U1S = P.E. stored in the spring.
T1 = initial K.E. of the block.
 E1 = mgh1 + 0 + 0 = mgh1 . . . . (i)
and E2 = U2g + U2s + T2
1 2
= mgh2 + kx  0 . . . . . (ii) m
2
1
From conservation of energy E1 = E2
h1
1 2 m 2
 mgh1 = mgh2 + kx h2
2 S

1 2
 kx  mg ( h 1  h 2 )  mgx
2
 x = 2mg/k

Illustration:
A block is placed on the top of a plane inclined at 37° with horizontal. The length of the plane is 5 m. The
block slides down the plane and reaches the bottom.
(a) Find the speed of the block at the bottom if the inclined plane is smooth.
(b) Find the speed of the block at the bottom if the coefficient of friction is
A R
0.25
Solution:
Let h be the height of inclined plane h vs
37º
 h = 5 sin 37° = 3 m mg cos37º
mg
37º
(a) As the block slides down the inclined plane, it loses GPE and gains B C
KE.
Loss in GPE = gain in KE
mg (loss in height) = KEf – KEi
1
 mgh = mv2 – 0
2
 v= 2gh = 2  9 .8  3 = 7.67 m/s.

Note : 1. Loss in energy = initial energy - final energy

2. gain in energy = final energy - initial energy
A R
(b) As the block comes down, it loses GPE. It gains KE and does m
gc
os 3
work against friction. 7º

loss in GPE = gain in KE + work done against friction h v

37º s
 mgh = (1/2 mv2 – 0) + (µ mg cos 37°) s mg cos37º
mg
37º
 3mg = 1/2 mv2 + (0.25) × mg × 4/5 × 5 B C

 v= 4g = 6.26 m/s

Illustration:
A 1.0 kg block collides with horizontal light spring of force constant 2 N/m. The block compresses the spring
4 m from the rest position. Assuming that the coefficient of kinetic friction between the block and the horizontal
surface is 0.25, what was the speed of the block at the instant of collision ?

Solution:
When the block compresses the spring, let x m be the amount of compression, i.e. x = 4m.
Let v = velocity of the block when it collides with the spring.
Loss in KE of the block = (gain in elastic potential energy of the spring) + (work done against friction)
1 1
 mv2 – 0 = kx2 + µ mg x
2 2
1 1
mv2 = (2) (4)2 + 0.25 × 1 × 9.8 × 4
2 2
2
v = 51.6  v = 51.6 = 7.18 m/s

Illustration:
A pump is required to lift 1000 kg of water per minutes from a well 20 m deep and eject it at a rate of
20 m/s.
(a) How much work is done in lifting water ?
(b) How much work is done in giving it a KE ?
Solution:

(a) Work done in lifting water = gain in PE (potential energy)

work = 1000 × g × 20 = 1.96 × 105 J per minute

(b) Work done (per minute) in giving it KE = 1/2 mv2

= 1/2 (1000) (20)2 = 2 × 105 J per minute
 Brain Teaser : A "Violation" of the Law of the Conservation of Energy
The following argument seems to prove a violation of the law of the energy conservation.
Suppose that a resting hand-cart of mass m is hit by and retains a projectile of the same mass.
The projectile had been flying horizontally before the collision at a velocity v in the same
direction as the hand-cart. As a result of this impact the hand-cart and projectile will together
set in motion at a initial velocity which can be found from the law of the conservation of
momentum
mv v
v1   .
2m 2
Hence, the kinetic energy of the hand-cart and projectile together is
2
v
2m 
 2 mv 2 ,
W1  
2 4
while before the collision the projectile had a kinetic energy of
mv 2
W .
2
i.e., twice as larger. Thus, after the collision half the energy has vanished altogether.
Can you say where it has gone?

TYPES OF POTENTIAL ENERGY

1. Elastic

We have seen that the work done by the spring force (of course conservative for an ideal spring) is
1 2
- kx when the spring is stretched or compressed by an amount x from its unstretched or natural position.
2
 1 2
Thus, U = -W = -   kx 
 2 
1 2
or U= kx (k = spring constant)
2
Note that elastic potential energy is always positive.

2. Gravitational

The gravitational potential energy of two particles of masses m1 and m2 separated by a distance r is given by
m1m2
U= G
r
Here, G = universal gravitation constant
N  m2
= 6.67  10 -11
kg 2
If a body of mass m is raised to a height 'h' from the surface of earth, the change in potential energy of the
system (earth + body) comes out to be:
 mgh
U = 1  h  (R = radius of earth)
 R
or U  mgh if h << R
Thus, the potential energy of a body at height h, i.e., mgh is really the change in potential energy of the system
for h << R. So be careful while using U = mgh, that h should not be too large. This we will discuss in detail in
the chapter of Gravitation.

Illustration :
m
A block of mass m starts from rest and slides down the surface of a frictionless solid
sphere of radius R as shown in figure. Measure angles from the vertical and potential 
energy from the top. Find the change in potential energy of the mass with angle. R

Solution:
A m
Consider the mass when it is at the point B.
R(1 – cos)
UA(P.E. at A) = 0
UB (P.E. at B) = -mgR (1 - cos) 
B
R
 U = UB - UA
 U = -mgR(1 - cos )
Negative sign indicates that P.E. decreases as particle slides down.

Brain Teaser: A Mysterious Disappearance of Energy

By lifting up a bucket of coal to a third floor stove we increase the potential energy of the coal
by about 800J (the force of gravity on the coal is about 80 N and it is raised by about 10 m).
Where will this additional potential energy go to when this coal is burnt in stove?

3. Electrostatic

The electric potential energy of two point charges q1 and q2 separated by a distance r in vacuum is given by
1 q1 q 2
U= .
4 0 r

1 N  m2
Here,  9.0  10 9 = constant
4 0 C2

POWER

From a particle viewpoint, it is interesting to know not only the work done on an object but also the rate at
which the work is being done. The time rate of doing work is called power.

If an external force is applied to an object (Which we assume as a particle), and if the work done by this force
is W in the time interval t, then the average power during this interval is defined as
W
P
t
The work done on the object contributes to increasing the energy of the object. A more general definition of
power is the time rate of energy transfer. The instantaneous power is the limiting value of the average
power as t approaches zero.
W dW
i.e., P = lim 
t 0 t dt
where we have represented the infinitesimal value of the work done by dW (even though it is not a change
and therefore not a differential).

dW ds
P=  F.  F .v
dt dt

ds
where we have used the fact that v  .
dt
This SI unit of power is joule per second (J/s), also called watt(W)' (after James Watt);
1W = 1 J/s = 1 kg.m2/s3.

CONSERVATIVE AND NON-CONSERVATIVE FORCES

If the work done by a force along a closed path is zero, the force is said to be conservative otherwise it is called
non-conservative. Under conservative forces, the work done depends only on the initial and final positions and
it is path independent.
Conservative forces are non-dissipative and we store work (or energy) whereas the non-conservative forces are
dissipative where in we do not store work (or energy). Examples of non-conservative forces are friction,
viscous force etc.

Three Types of Equilibrium

As we have studied in the chapter of 'Laws of motion' a body is said to be translatory equilibrium if net force
acting on the body is zero, i.e.,
F net  0
If the forces are conservative
dU
F= 
dr
and for equilibrium F = 0
dU dU
So,   0, or 0
dr dr
i.e., at equilibrium position slope of U- r graph is zero or the potential energy is optimum (maximum or mini-
mum or constant). Equilibrium are of three types, i.e. the situation where F = 0 and dU/dr = 0 can be obtained
under three conditions. These are stable equilibrium, unstable equilibrium and neutral equilibrium.
d 2U
If  0 it is stable equilibrium
dr 2
d 2U
 0 it is unstable equilibrium
dr 2
d 2U
 0 it is neutral equilibrium
dr 2

MOTION IN A VERTICAL CIRCLE

Suppose a particle of mass m is attached to an inextensible light string of length R. The particle is moving in a
vertical circle of radius R about a fixed point O. It is imparted a velocity u in horizontal direction at lowest point
A. Let v be its velocity at point B of the circle as shown in figure. Here
h = R(1 - cos ) . . . . .(i)
From conservation of mechanical energy
1
m(u 2  v 2 )  mgh
2
or v2 = u2 - 2gh . . . . . (ii)
The necessary centripetal force is provided by the resultant of tension T and mg cos 
mv 2
 T - mg cos  = . . . . .(iii)
R
Now, following three conditions arise depending on the value of u.

Case - 1 : (u  5 gR )
The particle will complete the circle if the string does not slack even at the highest point ( = ). Thus, tension
in the string should be greater than or equal to zero (T  0) at  = . In critical case, substituting T = 0 and  =
 in equation (iii), we get
mv 2 min
mg = P
R T=0
vmin = gR
2
or v min  gR
or vmin = gR (at highest point)
O
Substituting  =  in equation (i) h = 2R
2 2 R
Therefore, from equation (ii) u min  v min  2 gh
2
or u min  gR  2 g (2 R )  5 gR umin = 5 gR
A u
T = 6mg
or umin = 5 gR
Thus, if u  5gR , the particle will complete the circle.

At u = 5gR , velocity at highest point is v = gR , and tension in the string is zero.

Substituting  = 00 and v = u = 5 gR in equation (iii),

we get T = 6 mg or in the critical condition tension in the string at lowest position is 6 mg. This is shown
in figure.
If u < 5gR , following two cases are possible.

Case - 2:  2 gR  u  5 gR 
If u < 5 gR , the tension in the string will become zero before reaching the highest point.
From equation (iii), tension in the string becomes zero (T = 0)
 v2
where cos  =
Rg

2 gh  u 2
or cos  =
Rg
Substituting, this value of cos in equation (i), we get
 2 gh  u 2 h
 1
Rg R

1  u 2  Rg 
h  h 1    . . . .(iv)
3 g 
or we can say that at height h1 tension in the string becomes zero. Further, if u < 5gR ,
velocity of the particle becomes zero when
0 = u2 - 2gh
u2
or h=  h2 (say) . . . .(v)
2g
i.e. at height h2 velocity of particle becomes zero.
Now, the particle will leave the circle if tension in the string becomes zero but velocity is not zero
or
T = 0 but v  0. This is possible only when
h1 < h2
v
u 2  Rg u 2 T=0
or 
3g 2g v 0
or 2u2 + 2Rg < 3u2

or u2 > 2Rg
or u > 2 Rg
u

Therefore, if 2gR  u  5gR , the particle leaves the circle.

From equation (v), we can see that h > R if u2 > 2gR. Thus, the particle, will leave the circle when h > R or
900 <  < 1800. This situation is shown in the figure.
2gR  u  5gR or 900 <  < 1800

Case - 3: (0 < u  2 gR )
The particle will oscillate if velocity of the particle becomes zero but tension in the string is not
zero.
or v = 0, but T  0. This is possible when
h2 < h1
u 2 u 2  Rg
or  or 3u2 < 2u2 + 2Rg O
2g 3g v=0
T0
or u2 < 2Rg or u < 2 Rg P
hR
Further, if h1 = h2, u = 2 Rg and tension and velocity both becomes u
A
zero simultaneously.
Further, from equation (v), we can say that h  R if u  2 Rg .

Thus, for 0 < u  2gR , particle oscillates in lower half of the circle (00 <   900). This situation is
shown in the figure,
0 < u  2 gR or 00 <   900
Illustration:
A heavy particle hanging from a fixed point by a light inextensible string of length l is projected horizontally
with speed (gl ). Find the speed of the particle and the inclination of the string to the vertical at the
instant of the motion when the tension in the string is equal to the weight of the particle.

Solution:
Let tension in the string becomes equal to the weight of the particle when particle reaches the point B and
deflection of the string from vertical is . Resolving mg along the string and perpendicular to the string, we
get net radial force on the particle at B i.e.
FR = T - mg cos  . . . . (i)
If v be the speed of the particle at B, then
mv 2
FR = . . . . (ii)
l O
From (i) and (ii), we get T
2
 B
mv
T - mg cos  = . . . . (iii) mg cos
l A
mg sin
Since at B, T = mg
mv 2
 mg(1 - cos ) =
l
2
 v = gl(1 - cos ) . . . . .(iv)
Conserving the energy of the particle at point A and B, we have
1 2 1
mv 0  mgl (1  cos )  mv 2
2 2
where v0 = gl and v = gl (1  cos  )
 gl = 2gl(1 - cos) + gl(1 - cos)
 cos = 2/3 . . . . .(v)
Putting the value of cos in equation (iv) we get

gl
v =
3

A BODY MOVING INSIDE A HOLLOW TUBE

The same discussion holds good for this case, but instead of tension in the string
O
we have the normal reaction of the surface. If N is the normal reaction at the
lowest point, then
 v12  N
mv12
N - mg = ; N = m   g  v1
r  r 
At the highest point of the circle, mg

mv 22 v2

N + mg =
r N
mg
O
  v 22 
N = m   g 
 r 
The condition v1  5rg B
R
All other equations (can be) similarly obtained by replacing tension T by reaction C
N
N.

mg
BODY MOVING ON A SPHERICAL SURFACE O

The small body of mass m is placed on the top of a smooth sphere of radius r.
If the body slides down the surface, at what point does it fly off the surface?
Consider the point C where the mass is, at a certain instant. The forces are the A
normal reaction R and the weight mg. The radial component of the weight is mg
cos acting towards the center. The centripetal force is
mv 2
mg cos  - R =
r
where v is the velocity of the body at O.

 v2 

R = m g cos    . . . . . (i)
 r 
The body flies off the surface at the point where R becomes zero.

v2 v2
i.e., g cos  = ; cos = . . . . (ii)
r rg
To find v, we use conservation of energy
1 2
i.e., mv  mg ( BN )
2
= mg(OB - ON) = mgr(1 - cos )
v = 2rg(1 - cos )
2

v2
2(1 - cos ) = . . . .(iii)
rg
From equation (ii) and (iii) we get
cos  = 2 - 2 cos ; 3 cos  = 2
2  2
cos  = ;  = cos-1   . . . . (iv)
3 3
This gives the angle at which the body goes off the surface.
The height from the ground of that point = AN = r(1 + cos)
 2 5
= r 1   r m
 3 3
R 
O
Illustration:
R
A point mass ‘m’ starts from rest and slides down the surface of a frictionless
solid sphere of radius ‘R’ as shown in the figure. At what angle will this body
break off the surface of sphere? Find the velocity with which it will break off.
Solution:
Applying COE, we have at the point A and B,
A
1 m N
we have mgR (1 – cos ) = mv 2 . . …(i) R  B
2
Force equation gives, mg cos   N = mv2/R . . …(ii) O v
N = 0 for break off. R m
g
 v= gR cos  . . . . (iii)
Putting it in (i)
We get cos θ = 2/3
Putting this in (iii) we get

2
v= gR .
3