Unit 5: Work and Energy and Power

Class 9 Physics | Punjab Curriculum and Textbook Board Syllabus 2025

1 Work

Work is said to be done when a force acts on an object and moves it through some distance.

2 Mathematical Expression for Work

Mathematically, Work = Magnitude of force × Distance

\[ W = F \times S \]

3 SI Unit of work

One joule work is done when a force of one newton acting on a body moves it through a distance of one metre in its own direction. From equation W=FS:

\[ 1J = 1 N \times 1 m \]

\[ 1J = 1N m \]

Bigger units of work are also used like 1 kJ=103 J and 1 MJ= 106 J.

4 Work done at an angle θ

When a force acts at an angle θ with the direction of motion:

\[ W = FS \cos\theta \]

5 Energy

Energy is the ability of a body to do work.

6 SI unit of energy

When one joule of work is done on a body, the amount of energy spent is one joule.

7 Mechanical Energy

The combination of kinetic energy and potential energy is called mechanical energy. Forms: kinetic energy and potential energy.

8 Kinetic Energy

Kinetic energy of a body is the energy that a body possesses by virtue of its motion.

\[ E_k = \frac{1}{2} mv^2 \]

9 Potential Energy

Potential energy is defined as the energy that a body possesses by virtue of its position or deformation.

\[ E_p = mgh \]

10 Gravitational Potential Energy

The energy possessed by an object due to its position relative to the Earth. For example, water stored at a height in a dam.

11 Elastic Potential Energy

The energy stored in a compressed or stretched spring or elastic material. This energy is due to the deformation of the object.

12 Chemical Potential Energy

The energy stored in chemicals, such as in batteries or fuels. It is released during chemical reactions and may be converted into electrical or thermal energy.

13 Thermal (Internal) Energy

This is the energy released by burning fossil fuels like coal, oil, or gas through chemical reactions.

14 Nuclear Energy

The energy stored in the nucleus of an atom. When the nucleus splits (nuclear fission), a large amount of energy is released in the form of heat and radiation.

15 Conservation of Energy

Energy cannot be created or destroyed. It may be transformed from one form to another, but the total amount of energy never changes. Example: A falling body converts potential energy (Ep=mgh) to kinetic energy (Ek=½mv2), but total energy remains mgh.

16 Renewable Energy Sources

The resources of energy which are replaced by new ones after their use are called renewable energy sources.

17 Non-renewable Energy Sources

Non-renewable sources are those, which are depleted with the continuous use.

18 Fossil Fuel Energy

Fossil fuel energy is the energy that is released by burning of oil, coal and natural gas.

19 Hydroelectric energy

Hydroelectric generation is the electricity generated from the power of falling water.

20 Solar Energy

Sun is the biggest source of energy. The energy obtained from sunlight is referred to as solar energy.

21 Solar cell

Solar cells are also known as photo voltaic cells. The voltage produced by a single voltaic cell is very low.

22 Solar panel

In order to get sufficient high voltage for practical use, a large number of such cells are connected in series to form a solar cell panel.

23 Nuclear Energy

The energy released by breaking the nucleus of an atom is known as nuclear energy.

24 Geothermal Energy

Geothermal energy is the heat energy of the hot rocks present deep under the surface of the Earth.

25 Wind Energy

Wind energy is the electrical energy produced by using the kinetic energy of the fast-blowing wind.

26 Tidal Energy

Tidal energy is a renewable energy source that uses the movement of ocean tides (caused by the moon's gravity) to generate electricity.

27 Wave Energy

Wave energy uses ocean waves (made by wind and tides) to make electricity.

28 Biomass Energy

It is that energy which is obtained from the biomass.

29 Power

Power is defined as the time rate of doing work.

\[ P = \frac{W}{t} \]

It tells us how fast or slow work is done. Power of any agency can also be defined as energy transferred per unit time.

30 SI unit of power

SI unit of power is watt (W). One watt is the work done at the rate of one joule per second.

\[ 1 W = \frac{1 J}{1 s} \quad \text{or} \quad 1 Js^{-1} \]

31 Bigger Units of Power

Bigger units of power are kilowatt (kW), megawatt (MW) etc.

\[ 1 \text{ kilo watt (kW)} = 10^3 W = 1000 W \]

\[ 1 \text{ mega watt (MW)} = 10^6 W = 1000 000 W \]

In British engineering system, the unit of power used is horse-power (hp). The horse power is defined as

\[ 1 \text{ horse power (1hp)} = 746 W \]

32 Efficiency

The ratio of useful output energy and the total input energy is called the efficiency of a working system. Thus

\[ \text{Efficiency} = \frac{\text{Useful output energy}}{\text{Total input energy}} \]

Efficiency is often multiplied by 100 to give percentage efficiency. Thus,

\[ \text{Percentage Efficiency} = \frac{\text{Useful output energy}}{\text{Total input energy}} \times 100 \]

33 Perpetual Machine

A perpetual machine cannot work because some energy is always lost as heat due to friction and air resistance.