MAPUA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

Department of Physics

Work, Energy and Power

Alvero, Gillian Paulo F. // 2013101315
Abstract
The core viewpoint of this experiment is to illustrate how work, energy and power are
interrelated to each other. A fan cart, smart timer, and a track were used in order to define work
and power as well as the energy conservation principle. Computation was also done on the work
of a motion along a curved path produced. Initial measurement of force and recording of
displacement and time were two primary steps for obtaining work and power. When the fan cart
moves at a longer distance, it produces a greater amount of work. On the other hand, since the
object is moving horizontally, the power is remained constant. Afterwards, work and energy
(gravitation potential energy) was obtained on a much complicated means because it displaces on
a curve path. Continual increase in pulling the object is done in order to raise it at a certain
height. Later in that, it is found out that potential energy and work are of the same magnitude
which can be proven by the law of conservation of energy and work-energy theorem.
Introduction
Aircrafts do normally take off from the deck of ships through catapult system (catapult
mechanism for launching aircraft at a speed sufficient for flight). Large force is applied to the
aircraft as it is displaced across the deck of a ship. Obviously, the purpose of this is to attain a
certain speed before it can remain airborne which the catapult provides. In the language of
kinematics, it is described as the motion of the plane having accelerated. In the language of
Newtons law, it can be explained as the net force of the object is causing it to accelerate.
Nonetheless, another language can be used by physicist to explain this phenomenon. It is through
the concept of work and energy. This experiment intended to explain how work, energy and
power are different and how they are related as well.
One vital concept of physics is the energy. The universe possesses energy and matter. For
simplicity, matter is a substance and energy is used to move these substances. Energy is

appearing in various forms. Among those are kinetic, gravitational potential, elastic potential,
electric potential, thermal, chemical, etc. Work, on the other hand, is the change in energy from
one form to another by means of an external force. When work is done on an object, therefore,
the object is said to have either gained or lost a certain amount of energy of a particular type. The
total work done on a particle by all forces that act on it is equal to the change in its kinetic
energy, also known as the work-energy theorem. On the other hand, Power, which is another
term in physics, is the rate of time at which work is done. Power is a function of time unlike in
work which is a function of displacement. Similarly, power is also a vector dot product of vectors
force and velocity.
Naturally for this case in our experiment, energy being used are both potential gravitational
energy and kinetic energy. According to Law of Conservation of Energy, energy is neither
created nor destroyed, but transform from one form to another. Law of Conservation of Energy
states that the sum of the total energy in the universe is a constant quantity.
In the experiment, we will determine the power of the fan cart by using the definition of work
and energy conservation principle as well as to compute work for a motion along a curved path.
It is also reflected how energy is transformed or conserved.
Methods
The first experiment is generally divided into two parts. For the first half, calculations of work
and power of a fan cart is the primary concern. To do so, materials such as fan cart, track, smart
timer, photogates, pan with loads, etc. are given to us in assembling the set-up. The fan cart has
fan on it which aids it to move. The fan has wooden blades, so we are careful on using it while it
is in motion. We set the track horizontally on the table, as 0 0 as possible to minimize errors.
Initial determination of the force exerted by the fan was determined in a trial and error basis. The
track is assumed to be frictionless for an ideal experimentation. String is attached at the end of
the cart and pan with loads to the other end. The load has varied masses. The fan cart is allowed
to move in such a way that is pulling the pan with loads, moving away from the pan. Loads were
continually added until such a time that the fan cart is not moving an indication that

<Alvero, Gillian Paulo F. // 2013101315> Page 2

equilibrium Direction
is achieved.ofAt
this point, the force exerted by weight and the fan cart are of the
motion
same magnitude (See Figure 2).

fan cart

pan + weightdynamics
of mass track

Figure 2. Setup for determining the force of cart

Afterwards, work was determined at different displacement, so as to power where another

attribute is considered which is time. Fan cart is allowed to travel at a specific displacement
along the track. Photogates 1 and 2 serves as the initial and final positions, respectively, to
determine the length of displacement. Time was measured using a smart timer. Note that before
releasing the fan cart to move, hold it for a while in order to generate the fans full force to avoid
mistakes.
On the latter half of the experiment, determination of work and
energy (gravitational potential) was done using an object with
mass which is raised time to time. The object with mass used
is bottle like shape with cylindrical body. This object with
mass is tied on a string. The other end of the string is also tied
into an iron stand. Initial height of the mass and the length of
the string connecting the iron stand and the object were recorded. Repetitive pulling the mass
using a horizontal force was done (See Figure 3).

F
m
<Alvero, Gillian Paulo F. // 2013101315> Page 3

Figure 3. Setup for determining work and PEg

h
ho

hf

The force can be obtained using the spring balance. It is important to do horizontal pulling to
minimize errors. It is also done in order to take the full account of the force exerted. As we pull
it, height is increasing. The final height on each pull was recorded as well. Like in the first
part, it is done in several trials as a technique of diminishing the percentage error. Finally,
gravitational potential energy of the mass as well as the work done by the horizontal force is
computed using the obtained data.

Results
<The purpose of the results section is to describe, but not interpret the results, using text, tables
and or charts. All results should be presented in an appropriate form. Consider which results can
simply be mentioned in the text, and which results need to appear in a table or a chart. Dont
duplicate the presentation of results. Any results that appear in a table or chart need some brief
description in a paragraph that precedes the table or chart.
Table 1
Title of Table.
Time 1

Time 2

Time 3

Variable 1 (units)
Variable 2 (units)
Variable 3 (units)
If you are going to present a graph please make sure you have both axis labelled. It is also
recommended that you use some sort of computer package to present your graphs such as Excel,
as hand drawn graphs will receive a lower mark. Please also include a legend so we know what
data are being presented.

<Alvero, Gillian Paulo F. // 2013101315> Page 4

Figure 1: A Comparison of Intelligence Test Scores between People in Two Suburbs

Please note the placement of the title. For a table it goes above the table, for a graph it goes
below.
The interpretation of results often depends on knowing whether there is a difference between two
group means. If you can apply a statistical test (i.e. a t-test), you are likely to earn more marks. If
you dont know how to do any statistical analyses you may want to consider presenting
differences in terms of percentage change or percent difference.>

Discussion and Conclusion

The experiment aims to determine the power of the fan cart by using the definition of work and
the energy conservation principle. The other objective is also to compute work for a motion
along a curved path.

<Alvero, Gillian Paulo F. // 2013101315> Page 5

I conclude that work is related to power. Power can be determined using work by considering the
time. It is from its definition that power is the rate of doing work at specific displacement. The
work has linear relation with displacement. If we increase the displacement twice, work is also
increasing twice. For a horizontal path, power of a certain body moving along this path is
constant. If it is leveled, for example, going up stairs, it may vary because of the influence of
gravity. It is best to hold the fan cart first before allowing it to move because by doing this, we
are letting the fan to generate its natural force. Force which is parallel to displacement is doing
the maximum work. On the other hand, the force cannot affect work if force is perpendicular to
displacement.
I conclude that energy appearing in various forms like for example, mechanical energy, is
conserved. It can be transformed from one form to another. It is known as the law of
conservation of energy. The total work done of an object is merely the change in kinetic energy
or change in potential energy. As object moves away from earth surface, the work needed to do
this against gravitational force is then stored or converted as potential energy.
I also conclude that at circular path, work-energy theorem can still be applied. It is a proof that
the total work done to raise an object is equivalent to gravitational potential energy restored.
Aside from work-energy theorem, law of conservation of mechanical energy can prove total
work is equal to PEg.
The use of the method in first part of the experiment will give you accurate result. In oppose to
the second, which may give us unreliable data. It is due to second part has many measuring steps,
which leads us to make assumptions and uncertainties.
References
[1] http://www.thefreedictionary.com/catapult
[2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aircraft_catapult
[3] http://www.edinformatics.com/math_science/work_ en ergy_power.htm
[4] hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/work.html

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[5] Young, H., Freedman, R., University Physics with Modern Physics, 11th Edition, 2004
[6] http://www.mathsrevision.net/alevel/pages.php? page=93
[7] http://www.launc.tased.edu.au/online/sciences/Phys Sci/ done/kinetics/wep/Work.htm
[8] http://teacher.pas.rochester.edu/PHY_LABS/Appen dixB/AppendixB.html

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