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Physics 211, Quiz 13

Question 1:

A cruise ship of mass 10^5 kg sits at rest in port. The captain starts the propellors, which exert a force F = 10^4 Newtons for a distance of 1 km. At the end of thæt distance, the ship has kinetic energy KE = 6.2 x 10^6 Joules.

How much work did the water do on the ship?

  Answer:  The work done by the propellors on the ship is

                  W(prop)     =  F * d  = (10^4 N) * (1000 m)

                              = 10^7 Joules

           The total kinetic energy of the ship is smaller than
           this, though, because the water has been doing negative
           work on the ship:

                  change in KE  =   W(prop) + W(water)
 
                 +6.2 x 10^6 J  =   10^7 J  + W(water)


             -->     W(water)   =   6.2 x 10^6 J  -  10^7 J

                                =  -3.8 x 10^6 J

Creative Commons License Copyright © Michael Richmond. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.