Work and power

A worker pushes a pallet with a horizontal force of $150\ \text{N}$ and moves it $8\ \text{m}$ along the warehouse floor. Calculate the work done.

You place a box of books of $8\ \text{kg}$ on the top shelf of a cupboard, $1,5\ \text{m}$ above the floor (take $g = 10\ \text{m/s}^2$).

1. a) What minimum force do you have to overcome to raise it?
2. b) What work do you do against gravity?

A child pulls a cart with a rope that forms an angle of $60^\circ$ with the horizontal, exerting a force of $200\ \text{N}$, and drags it $10\ \text{m}$ ($\cos 60^\circ = 0,5$), as shown in the figure.

Calculate the work done.

Aitana mows the lawn by pushing the lawnmower with a force of $80\ \text{N}$ applied to the handle, which forms an angle of $30^\circ$ with the horizontal ($\cos 30^\circ \approx 0,87$), and covers $20\ \text{m}$ of lawn, as shown in the figure.

1. a) Calculate the work done.
2. b) What work would have been done by pushing horizontally with the same force? What accounts for the difference?

The work done by a force on a moving object is calculated as $W = F \cdot d \cdot \cos \alpha$, where $\alpha$ is the angle between the force and the displacement. You pull a trolley with the same force and over the same distance in three cases: with the rope horizontal ($\alpha = 0^\circ$), at an angle of $45^\circ$, and at an angle of $90^\circ$ ($\cos 0^\circ = 1$; $\cos 45^\circ \approx 0,71$; $\cos 90^\circ = 0$). The figure shows the three cases.

Order the three amounts of work done from greatest to least and justify your answer using the formula.

A worker pushes a container $12\ \text{m}$ along a warehouse floor with a horizontal force of $80\ \text{N}$, while friction opposes it with $45\ \text{N}$, as shown in the figure. Remember that work done by a force opposing displacement is negative ($\alpha = 180^\circ$, $\cos 180^\circ = -1$).

1. a) Calculate the work done by the worker.
2. b) Calculate the work done by friction.
3. c) What is the net work done on the container?

The motor of a conveyor belt in a parcel distribution centre does $18000\ \text{J}$ of work in $60\ \text{s}$. Power is calculated as $P = W/t$. Calculate the power of the motor, in watts.

A drill has a power rating of $600\ \text{W}$ and operates for $2\ \text{min}$ ($1\ \text{kWh} = 3,6\cdot10^{6}\ \text{J}$).

1. a) Express the time in seconds.
2. b) Calculate the work (energy) done.
3. c) Express this energy in $\text{kWh}$.

The motor of a patio awning has a power rating of $40\ \text{W}$ and takes $15\ \text{s}$ to retract it.

1. a) What work does it do?
2. b) If the awning rises by $1,5\ \text{m}$, what average force does the motor exert?

A kayaker drags his kayak $40\ \text{m}$ across the sand by pulling a rope that forms an angle of $45^\circ$ with the horizontal, with a force of $50\ \text{N}$ ($\cos 45^\circ \approx 0,71$). Friction with the sand opposes the motion with $20\ \text{N}$.

1. a) Calculate the work done by the kayaker.
2. b) Calculate the work done by friction (remember it is negative).
3. c) What is the net work done on the kayak? How can you observe the effect of this net work?

To load a box of $60\ \text{kg}$ onto a lorry, whose bed is $1,2\ \text{m}$ above the ground, you can lift it vertically or push it up a frictionless ramp $3\ \text{m}$ long (take $g = 10\ \text{m/s}^2$). The figure shows the two options.

1. a) Calculate the work required in each case and explain why it is the same.
2. b) Calculate the force that must be applied in each case.
3. c) What is the advantage of using the ramp? What is the "cost" of using it?