Work, Power, and Diagrams - AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism
Card 1 of 154
A 25kg child climbs up a tree. How much work is required for him to climb up this tree to a height of three meters?
A 25kg child climbs up a tree. How much work is required for him to climb up this tree to a height of three meters?
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The forces acting on the child are the force of gravity and the upward force provided by the child himself. Choosing the upward direction as positive, Newton's second law applied to the child gives the following equation.
To calculate the work done by the child to bring himself three meters up the tree, we use the work equation below.
The forces acting on the child are the force of gravity and the upward force provided by the child himself. Choosing the upward direction as positive, Newton's second law applied to the child gives the following equation.
To calculate the work done by the child to bring himself three meters up the tree, we use the work equation below.
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A force of 27N is applied horizontally to a box resting on a level surface. The surface exerts a friction force of 2N as the box moves. If it moves a total of 3.7m, how much work was done on the box?
A force of 27N is applied horizontally to a box resting on a level surface. The surface exerts a friction force of 2N as the box moves. If it moves a total of 3.7m, how much work was done on the box?
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The net force on the box is the applied force minus the friction force, since friction acts in the direction opposite motion.
Consequently, the net force is:
The formula for work is:
Substituting in our net force and distance, we find that the work done on the box is:
The net force on the box is the applied force minus the friction force, since friction acts in the direction opposite motion.
Consequently, the net force is:
The formula for work is:
Substituting in our net force and distance, we find that the work done on the box is:
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An object is pushed across a rough surface with a force of 53N. The rough surface exerts a frictional force of 3.47N on the object. If the object is pushed 7.9m, how much work is done on the object?
An object is pushed across a rough surface with a force of 53N. The rough surface exerts a frictional force of 3.47N on the object. If the object is pushed 7.9m, how much work is done on the object?
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The defintion of work is:
The net force on this object is:
We can calculate this term using the given values:
The distance is given. Substituting these values:
The defintion of work is:
The net force on this object is:
We can calculate this term using the given values:
The distance is given. Substituting these values:
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ONe of the forces that act on a particle as it underjoes a dispalcement of
m is given by 
.
How much work is done by that force on the particle?
ONe of the forces that act on a particle as it underjoes a dispalcement of
How much work is done by that force on the particle?
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The equation of work is given by 
, where 
is force and 
is the distance. Both the work and the force are given to us, but in vector form. In this case, we have to take the dot product of the force and distance.
When taking dot product, keep these rule in mind
Every other dot proudct is equal to 0.
The equation of work is given by
When taking dot product, keep these rule in mind
Every other dot proudct is equal to 0.
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An object with a mass of 
is moving at 
in a straight line on a fricitonless surface. After a force of 
acting in the direction of its motion is applied to it for 
, what is the object's speed in meters per second?
An object with a mass of
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Begin by using the following equation relating the initial and final kinetic energy and the work done on the object:
Then, plug in the given variables and solve for the final speed.
Simplify terms.
Isolate the final velocity and solve.
Begin by using the following equation relating the initial and final kinetic energy and the work done on the object:
Then, plug in the given variables and solve for the final speed.
Simplify terms.
Isolate the final velocity and solve.
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A 
projectile is launched straight upwards at an initial velocity of 
. What is the maximum height that this projectile reaches in meters?
Round to the nearest meter, and assume the projectile encounters no air resistance.
A
Round to the nearest meter, and assume the projectile encounters no air resistance.
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You can use the motion equation and find the maximum, but it may be faster to use energy equations. Set the initial kinetic energy equal to the gravitational potential energy at the maximum height and solve for the height.
Mass cancels.
Isolate the height and solve.
Round to 
.
You can use the motion equation and find the maximum, but it may be faster to use energy equations. Set the initial kinetic energy equal to the gravitational potential energy at the maximum height and solve for the height.
Mass cancels.
Isolate the height and solve.
Round to
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A set of cars on a roller coaster with a combined mass of 
is at the top of its initial hill and will drop 
down the hill before the track starts to rise again. What will the coaster's speed be at the moment the track starts to rise again?
Round to the nearest meter per second. You may also assume the track does not create friction.
A set of cars on a roller coaster with a combined mass of
Round to the nearest meter per second. You may also assume the track does not create friction.
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Remember that gravitational potential energy is not affected by the path downward (or upward)—whether it is straight, curved, or winding—only by how big the drop is. Once that is taken into account, you can simply set the initial gravitational potential energy and final kinetic energy equal to each other as if the coaster were falling straight down and solve for the final velocity.
The mass cancels.
Isolate the velocity and solve.
Remember that gravitational potential energy is not affected by the path downward (or upward)—whether it is straight, curved, or winding—only by how big the drop is. Once that is taken into account, you can simply set the initial gravitational potential energy and final kinetic energy equal to each other as if the coaster were falling straight down and solve for the final velocity.
The mass cancels.
Isolate the velocity and solve.
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A plane weighing 1500kg dives 40m with its engine off before it goes into a circular pattern with a radius of 200m while maintaining its speed at the end of its dive. How much centripetal force, in Newtons, is acting on the plane?
A plane weighing 1500kg dives 40m with its engine off before it goes into a circular pattern with a radius of 200m while maintaining its speed at the end of its dive. How much centripetal force, in Newtons, is acting on the plane?
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First, find the gravitational potential energy of the drop. Then, set it equal to the kinetic energy at the end of the drop and solve for the velocity.
The mass cancels.
Isolate the velocity and solve.
This gives you the last term you need to solve for the centripetal force.
First, find the gravitational potential energy of the drop. Then, set it equal to the kinetic energy at the end of the drop and solve for the velocity.
The mass cancels.
Isolate the velocity and solve.
This gives you the last term you need to solve for the centripetal force.
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If the maximum speed of an object attached to the end of a elastic has a 1:1 ratio (a meter per second for each meter) with how much the elastic is stretched or compressed from its starting position, which of the following is true?
If the maximum speed of an object attached to the end of a elastic has a 1:1 ratio (a meter per second for each meter) with how much the elastic is stretched or compressed from its starting position, which of the following is true?
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Set the elastic potential and kinetic energy equations equal to each other:
You are given the fact that in this case, 
. This allows you to simplify the equality.
This shows us that there is a 1:1 ratio between the spring constant of the elastic and the mass of the object.
Set the elastic potential and kinetic energy equations equal to each other:
You are given the fact that in this case,
This shows us that there is a 1:1 ratio between the spring constant of the elastic and the mass of the object.
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A 
pumpkin is being launched out of an air cannon. For safety reasons, the pumpkin cannot be more than 
off the ground during flight, and this particular cannon always launches pumpkins at 
meters per second—any more power and the pumpkin could be blasted apart; any less and the pumpkin may not leave the launch tube.
What is the maximum possible angle of launch in degrees?
Round to the nearest whole degree.
A
What is the maximum possible angle of launch in degrees?
Round to the nearest whole degree.
Tap to reveal answer
We know the maximum height of the pumpkin, which tells us the maximum energy of the launch. Calculate the final gravitational potential energy.
Now set this value equal to a kinetic energy equation that uses the vertical component of the velocity at launch.
Use the vertical velocity component to determine the launch angle.
We know the maximum height of the pumpkin, which tells us the maximum energy of the launch. Calculate the final gravitational potential energy.
Now set this value equal to a kinetic energy equation that uses the vertical component of the velocity at launch.
Use the vertical velocity component to determine the launch angle.
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An object with a mass of is moving at in a straight line on a fricitonless surface. After a force of acting in the direction of its motion is applied to it for , what is the object's speed in meters per second?
An object with a mass of
Tap to reveal answer
Begin by using the following equation relating the initial and final kinetic energy and the work done on the object:
Then, plug in the given variables and solve for the final speed.
Simplify terms.
Isolate the final velocity and solve.
Begin by using the following equation relating the initial and final kinetic energy and the work done on the object:
Then, plug in the given variables and solve for the final speed.
Simplify terms.
Isolate the final velocity and solve.
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A projectile is launched straight upwards at an initial velocity of . What is the maximum height that this projectile reaches in meters?
Round to the nearest meter, and assume the projectile encounters no air resistance.
A
Round to the nearest meter, and assume the projectile encounters no air resistance.
Tap to reveal answer
You can use the motion equation and find the maximum, but it may be faster to use energy equations. Set the initial kinetic energy equal to the gravitational potential energy at the maximum height and solve for the height.
Mass cancels.
Isolate the height and solve.
Round to .
You can use the motion equation and find the maximum, but it may be faster to use energy equations. Set the initial kinetic energy equal to the gravitational potential energy at the maximum height and solve for the height.
Mass cancels.
Isolate the height and solve.
Round to
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A set of cars on a roller coaster with a combined mass of is at the top of its initial hill and will drop down the hill before the track starts to rise again. What will the coaster's speed be at the moment the track starts to rise again?
Round to the nearest meter per second. You may also assume the track does not create friction.
A set of cars on a roller coaster with a combined mass of
Round to the nearest meter per second. You may also assume the track does not create friction.
Tap to reveal answer
Remember that gravitational potential energy is not affected by the path downward (or upward)—whether it is straight, curved, or winding—only by how big the drop is. Once that is taken into account, you can simply set the initial gravitational potential energy and final kinetic energy equal to each other as if the coaster were falling straight down and solve for the final velocity.
The mass cancels.
Isolate the velocity and solve.
Remember that gravitational potential energy is not affected by the path downward (or upward)—whether it is straight, curved, or winding—only by how big the drop is. Once that is taken into account, you can simply set the initial gravitational potential energy and final kinetic energy equal to each other as if the coaster were falling straight down and solve for the final velocity.
The mass cancels.
Isolate the velocity and solve.
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A plane weighing 1500kg dives 40m with its engine off before it goes into a circular pattern with a radius of 200m while maintaining its speed at the end of its dive. How much centripetal force, in Newtons, is acting on the plane?
A plane weighing 1500kg dives 40m with its engine off before it goes into a circular pattern with a radius of 200m while maintaining its speed at the end of its dive. How much centripetal force, in Newtons, is acting on the plane?
Tap to reveal answer
First, find the gravitational potential energy of the drop. Then, set it equal to the kinetic energy at the end of the drop and solve for the velocity.
The mass cancels.
Isolate the velocity and solve.
This gives you the last term you need to solve for the centripetal force.
First, find the gravitational potential energy of the drop. Then, set it equal to the kinetic energy at the end of the drop and solve for the velocity.
The mass cancels.
Isolate the velocity and solve.
This gives you the last term you need to solve for the centripetal force.
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If the maximum speed of an object attached to the end of a elastic has a 1:1 ratio (a meter per second for each meter) with how much the elastic is stretched or compressed from its starting position, which of the following is true?
If the maximum speed of an object attached to the end of a elastic has a 1:1 ratio (a meter per second for each meter) with how much the elastic is stretched or compressed from its starting position, which of the following is true?
Tap to reveal answer
Set the elastic potential and kinetic energy equations equal to each other:
You are given the fact that in this case, . This allows you to simplify the equality.
This shows us that there is a 1:1 ratio between the spring constant of the elastic and the mass of the object.
Set the elastic potential and kinetic energy equations equal to each other:
You are given the fact that in this case,
This shows us that there is a 1:1 ratio between the spring constant of the elastic and the mass of the object.
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A pumpkin is being launched out of an air cannon. For safety reasons, the pumpkin cannot be more than off the ground during flight, and this particular cannon always launches pumpkins at meters per second—any more power and the pumpkin could be blasted apart; any less and the pumpkin may not leave the launch tube.
What is the maximum possible angle of launch in degrees?
Round to the nearest whole degree.
A
What is the maximum possible angle of launch in degrees?
Round to the nearest whole degree.
Tap to reveal answer
We know the maximum height of the pumpkin, which tells us the maximum energy of the launch. Calculate the final gravitational potential energy.
Now set this value equal to a kinetic energy equation that uses the vertical component of the velocity at launch.
Use the vertical velocity component to determine the launch angle.
We know the maximum height of the pumpkin, which tells us the maximum energy of the launch. Calculate the final gravitational potential energy.
Now set this value equal to a kinetic energy equation that uses the vertical component of the velocity at launch.
Use the vertical velocity component to determine the launch angle.
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What power is required to lift a 25kg box 5.76m off the ground in fifteen seconds?
What power is required to lift a 25kg box 5.76m off the ground in fifteen seconds?
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The definition of power is:
The work done on the box to lift it is required in order to overcome the force of gravity. If we can find the force of gravity on the object, we can calculate the net force. The force of gravity on any object near the Earth's surface is:
The definition of work is:
We can substitute the force of gravity for the net force, resulting in the equation:
Substituting this into our power equation, we find:
Plugging in our given values and constants, we find:
The definition of power is:
The work done on the box to lift it is required in order to overcome the force of gravity. If we can find the force of gravity on the object, we can calculate the net force. The force of gravity on any object near the Earth's surface is:
The definition of work is:
We can substitute the force of gravity for the net force, resulting in the equation:
Substituting this into our power equation, we find:
Plugging in our given values and constants, we find:
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A person is moving boxes up the stairs in their new home. They have two identical boxes, with same the size and mass. The first box is easy to carry up the stairs. When moving the second box, the person is more tired and moves more slowly. Which statement accurately describes the work and power between the two trials?
A person is moving boxes up the stairs in their new home. They have two identical boxes, with same the size and mass. The first box is easy to carry up the stairs. When moving the second box, the person is more tired and moves more slowly. Which statement accurately describes the work and power between the two trials?
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Because the boxes are the same mass and are moving the same distance, the work done will remain the same between the two instances. Work does not depend on time:
However, when carrying the second box, the person moves more slowly. The overall time increases, which leads to a decrease in power.
Because the boxes are the same mass and are moving the same distance, the work done will remain the same between the two instances. Work does not depend on time:
However, when carrying the second box, the person moves more slowly. The overall time increases, which leads to a decrease in power.
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When riding your bicycle, you have a maximum power output of 500W. As you approach a hill, you shift into first gear, applying a torque of 
to the gears. Assuming you produce 50% of your maximum power output, what is the angular velocity of the gears, in radians per second?
When riding your bicycle, you have a maximum power output of 500W. As you approach a hill, you shift into first gear, applying a torque of
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Power is determined by calculating the work output per unit time. In this case, power will be the product of torque and angular velocity:
We are given values for our torque and our power output, allowing us to solve for the angualr velocity. Keep in mind that the power output is going to be 50% of the maximum.
Power is determined by calculating the work output per unit time. In this case, power will be the product of torque and angular velocity:
We are given values for our torque and our power output, allowing us to solve for the angualr velocity. Keep in mind that the power output is going to be 50% of the maximum.
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A crane lifts a crate with a mass of 50kg. The crate is raised at a constant velocity for ten seconds and and moves a vertical distance upwards of 20m. What power is being supplied to the crane during this time?
A crane lifts a crate with a mass of 50kg. The crate is raised at a constant velocity for ten seconds and and moves a vertical distance upwards of 20m. What power is being supplied to the crane during this time?
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For this problem we can calculate the power as the product of force and velocity:
First, we need to find the velocity:
Our force will be equal to the weight of the crate:
Now, we can solve for power:
For this problem we can calculate the power as the product of force and velocity:
First, we need to find the velocity:
Our force will be equal to the weight of the crate:
Now, we can solve for power:
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