(a) Define mechanical work done by a force acting on a particle that moves in one…
PHYSICS · Subjective · A Level · Physics · Mechanics and materials · Mechanics and materials
Problem
(a) Define mechanical work done by a force acting on a particle that moves in one dimension.
(b) A particle of mass m executes simple harmonic motion along the x-axis under the action of a restoring force. Explain, with reasons, whether the work done by this restoring force while the particle moves from displacement x1 to x2 is positive, negative or zero in each of the following cases:
(i) 0→+A/2
(ii) +A/2→0
(iii) −A/2→+A/2.
(c) Hence, describe qualitatively how the sign of work done is related to the change in the kinetic energy of the particle in these intervals.