Mechanics: Work and Energy

Work and Energy: Audio Guided Solution

Problem Set WE7, Question 4:

The new furniture for the English Department's Writer's Lounge has just arrived and is down at the loading dock. A 210-N force is used to pull a 37.1-kg furniture crate up the loading dock to a height of 3.66 m at a constant speed. Determine the increase in potential energy of the crate.
 

 

 

Audio Guided Solution

Habits of an Effective Problem Solver

• Read the problem carefully and develop a mental picture of the physical situation. If necessary, sketch a simple diagram of the physical situation to help you visualize it.
• Identify the known and unknown quantities in an organized manner. Equate given values to the symbols used to represent the corresponding quantity - e.g., v_o = 0 m/s; a = 4.2 m/s/s; v_f = 22.9 m/s; d = ???.
• Use physics formulas and conceptual reasoning to plot a strategy for solving for the unknown quantity.
• Identify the appropriate formula(s) to use.
• Perform substitutions and algebraic manipulations in order to solve for the unknown quantity

​

Read About It!

Get more information on the topic of Work and Energy at The Physics Classroom Tutorial.

• Potential Energy

 

 

Watch It!

Try our YouTube video on the topic of ...

• Potential Energy