About

Work Done on a Block (Work-Energy Principle)

This simulation demonstrates the effect of forces acting on a block across a distance through three perspectives: kinematics, dynamics and energy changes.

In the simulation, the block is made to travel through three regions, A, B and C.

In region A: The block experiences an applied force to the right across a frictionless surface.

In region B: The block experiences no horizontal force as it slides to the right across a frictionless surface.

In region C: The block experiences friction only as it slides across a rough surface¹.

¹Note: friction is zero when the block is motionless and is not attempting to move from rest

Instructions

Step 1: Adjust values

driving force: key desired value in input field

initial displacement: drag² the box between - 1.0 m <x < - 0.4 m

mass (of block): key desired value in input field³

friction (in region C): key desired value in input field³

²Note: you are also allowed to drag the box for the range x > - 0.4 units, however, the conditions of regions B and C still apply

³Note: values of mass and friction are co-dependent, i.e. changing one value will affect the other

Step 2: Play/Step-play/Pause Simulation

Play: runs the simulation

Step-play: runs the simulation in steps with each click

Pause: pauses the simulation

Step 3: Data Analysis

Numerical display

Resultant force, friction, mass, kinetic energy, thermal energy, total energy, time

Graphical display

Motion graphs: displacement-time, velocity-time, acceleration-time

Energy graphs: kinetic energy-time, thermal energy-time, total energy, energy-time (layering of all three aforementioned graphs)

 

Translations

Code	Language		Translator	Run

Credits

Nur Shahzreen

 

Briefing Document: "Work Done on a Block (Work-Energy Principle) JavaScript HTML5 Applet Simulation Model"

1. Overview

This document reviews the "Work Done on a Block" JavaScript simulation applet, a resource developed by Nur Shahzreen and hosted on the Open Educational Resources / Open Source Physics @ Singapore platform. This simulation aims to demonstrate the relationship between forces, motion, and energy changes using a block moving across different surfaces. The tool is designed for educational purposes, allowing users to manipulate variables and observe the resulting effects on kinematics, dynamics, and energy.

2. Key Themes and Concepts

• Work-Energy Principle: The core theme is the demonstration of the work-energy principle, which states that the work done on an object is equal to the change in its kinetic energy. The simulation helps visualize how forces acting over a distance impact the kinetic energy of the block.
• Multi-Perspective Approach: The simulation explores the scenario through three interconnected perspectives:
• Kinematics: Focuses on the motion of the block (displacement, velocity, and acceleration) over time.
• Dynamics: Examines the forces acting on the block (applied force and friction).
• Energy: Tracks the kinetic, thermal, and total energy changes of the system.
• Interactive Learning: The simulation is designed to be interactive, enabling users to experiment with different parameters and observe the real-time consequences. This encourages active learning and deeper understanding of the concepts.
• Three-Region Model: The simulation breaks the block's path into three distinct regions, each with specific conditions:
• Region A: The block experiences an applied force, causing it to accelerate across a frictionless surface.
• Region B: The block moves at constant velocity due to the absence of horizontal forces across a frictionless surface.
• Region C: The block encounters friction and loses kinetic energy, which is converted to thermal energy.

3. Important Ideas and Facts

• User-Adjustable Parameters:Driving Force: The force applied to the block in region A can be adjusted, enabling students to see the direct effect of force on motion and energy.
• Initial Displacement: The starting position of the block can be dragged within a specified range.
• Mass of the Block: Changing the mass allows the study of inertia and the relationship between mass and energy.
• Friction in Region C: Adjusting the friction coefficient will demonstrate its effect on energy loss and deceleration of the block.
• Co-dependent values: "values of mass and friction are co-dependent, i.e. changing one value will affect the other" suggesting some relationship between the two.
• Simulation Controls:Play, Step-Play, Pause: Provides flexibility in how users interact with the simulation, allowing for careful analysis of the block's motion.
• Data Display: The simulation provides both numerical and graphical data:
• Numerical Display: Shows values for resultant force, friction, mass, kinetic energy, thermal energy, total energy, and time.
• Graphical Display: Generates real-time graphs of displacement-time, velocity-time, acceleration-time, kinetic energy-time, thermal energy-time, and total energy-time. This layered energy graph is particularly useful to see the relationships.
• Friction Model: The simulation uses a friction model where "friction is zero when the block is motionless and is not attempting to move from rest".

4. Direct Quotes

• "This simulation demonstrates the effect of forces acting on a block across a distance through three perspectives: kinematics, dynamics and energy changes."
• "In region A: The block experiences an applied force to the right across a frictionless surface."
• "In region B: The block experiences no horizontal force as it slides to the right across a frictionless surface."
• "In region C: The block experiences friction only as it slides across a rough surface."
• "Note: friction is zero when the block is motionless and is not attempting to move from rest"
• "values of mass and friction are co-dependent, i.e. changing one value will affect the other"

5. Educational Value and Potential Applications

• Visualizing Abstract Concepts: The simulation effectively visualizes abstract concepts such as work, energy, and force, making them more accessible to students.
• Active Learning and Inquiry: The interactive nature allows students to explore these concepts themselves by experimenting with different values and observing outcomes.
• Data Analysis and Interpretation: Students can learn to analyze data from both numerical readouts and graphs and make inferences about the physics principles being represented.
• Classroom Use: This simulation would be a beneficial tool for high school or early university-level physics classes, as it covers key concepts related to Newtonian mechanics and energy.

6. Additional Notes

• The simulation is available as an embedded HTML5 applet.
• The resource is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 Singapore License, which allows sharing and adaptation with proper credit.
• This tool is part of a larger collection of educational resources focused on Open Source Physics.
• The page provides links to related resources, other interactive simulations, workshops and presentations suggesting the author has a long history working in the field.

7. Conclusion

The "Work Done on a Block" simulation is a valuable educational tool for illustrating fundamental physics principles related to forces, motion, and energy. Its interactive nature, adjustable parameters, and comprehensive data display make it ideal for student-driven exploration and learning. It effectively demonstrates the work-energy principle in a clear and engaging manner.

 

Work-Energy Principle Simulation Study Guide

Quiz

Instructions: Answer the following questions in 2-3 sentences each.

1. What are the three regions that the block travels through in the simulation, and what forces act on the block in each region?
2. In Region A, what force acts on the block and what is the surface condition?
3. What happens to the block's motion in Region B and what are the force and surface conditions?
4. Describe the force acting on the block and the surface condition in Region C.
5. What adjustments can be made to the simulation parameters before running it?
6. How can the initial displacement of the block be changed, and what is the allowed range?
7. How are mass and friction values related in the simulation?
8. What different simulation control options are available, and what does each one do?
9. What numerical data is displayed in the simulation results?
10. What kinds of graphs are available to analyze the block's motion and energy changes?

Quiz Answer Key

1. The block travels through three regions: A, B, and C. In Region A, there is an applied force to the right and a frictionless surface. In Region B, there is no horizontal force and the surface is still frictionless. In Region C, only friction acts as a force on a rough surface.
2. In Region A, an applied force to the right acts on the block, and the surface is frictionless. This force causes the block to accelerate to the right across the surface.
3. In Region B, the block slides to the right at a constant velocity since there is no horizontal force acting on it and the surface is frictionless.
4. In Region C, the block experiences friction as it slides across a rough surface. Friction acts in the opposite direction of the block's motion, slowing it down.
5. Before running the simulation, you can adjust the driving force, the initial displacement of the block, its mass, and the friction force in region C.
6. The initial displacement of the block can be changed by dragging the box horizontally between -1.0 m and -0.4 m. While the box may be dragged further to the right, Regions B and C conditions will still apply.
7. The values of mass and friction are co-dependent in the simulation, which means that changing one value will affect the other.
8. The simulation can be controlled by three options: "Play," which runs the simulation continuously, "Step-play," which advances the simulation by one step with each click, and "Pause," which stops the simulation.
9. The simulation numerically displays data for resultant force, friction, mass, kinetic energy, thermal energy, total energy, and time during the simulation.
10. The simulation offers motion graphs (displacement-time, velocity-time, and acceleration-time) and energy graphs (kinetic energy-time, thermal energy-time, and total energy-time) to analyze the block's movement.

Essay Questions

Instructions: Answer the following questions in essay format.

1. Discuss how the work-energy principle is demonstrated in the simulation, referencing the changes in kinetic, thermal, and total energy in the different regions.
2. Analyze the relationship between the applied force, friction, and the block's motion in the simulation, using concepts from kinematics and dynamics.
3. Describe the differences in the block's motion and energy changes across all three regions. Be sure to explain why they are different.
4. Explain how the simulation can be used to explore the effect of changing various parameters (e.g., driving force, mass, friction) on the block's motion and energy transfer, with specific examples of those changes.
5. Evaluate the usefulness of this simulation as an educational tool for understanding the work-energy principle and related concepts in physics. What are some of the limitations?

Glossary of Key Terms

Work-Energy Principle: A physics principle that states that the net work done on an object is equal to the change in its kinetic energy.

Kinematics: The study of the motion of objects without regard to the forces that cause the motion. It deals with displacement, velocity, and acceleration.

Dynamics: The study of the motion of objects considering the forces that cause that motion. Newton's laws of motion are foundational to this study.

Applied Force: An external force exerted on an object. In this simulation, it's the force that propels the block in Region A.

Friction: A force that opposes motion between two surfaces in contact. In this simulation, it appears in Region C.

Kinetic Energy: The energy an object possesses due to its motion. It increases with velocity.

Thermal Energy: Energy associated with the temperature of an object, often resulting from work done by friction and is also considered a type of potential energy.

Total Energy: The sum of kinetic and potential energy (and in this case thermal energy), for the system.

Displacement: The change in position of an object. In this case, the distance the block has traveled.

 Version:

1. http://opensourcephysicssg.blogspot.sg/2017/10/work-done-on-block-work-energy.html

 Other Resources

https://www.geogebra.org/m/qvhthk5a by Tan Seng Kwang

Frequently Asked Questions: Work-Energy Principle Simulation

• What does the "Work Done on a Block" simulation demonstrate?
• This simulation visually and numerically demonstrates the work-energy principle by showing how forces affect a block's motion and energy as it moves across different regions. It covers three perspectives: kinematics (motion), dynamics (forces), and energy changes. The block is subject to varying forces including an applied force and friction, and its changes in kinetic, thermal and total energy are calculated and displayed.
• How are the different regions (A, B, C) characterized in the simulation?
• The simulation is divided into three distinct regions: In region A, the block experiences a constant horizontal force applied to the right and moves across a frictionless surface. In region B, no horizontal force is applied to the block, and it continues to move freely across a frictionless surface. In region C, the block is subjected only to friction as it slides across a rough surface, meaning the block is always experiencing a force in the opposite direction of travel.
• What user-adjustable parameters are available in the simulation?
• The simulation allows users to adjust several parameters, including the magnitude of the driving force applied to the block in region A, the initial horizontal displacement of the block, the mass of the block, and the coefficient of friction in region C. Note that changing the mass will affect friction values.
• What types of data are displayed during the simulation?
• The simulation provides both numerical and graphical displays of data. Numerical data includes the resultant force, friction, mass, kinetic energy, thermal energy, total energy, and time. Graphical data includes displacement-time, velocity-time, acceleration-time, kinetic energy-time, thermal energy-time, and total energy-time. The graphs can be layered for comparison.
• What is the relationship between work, energy, and force demonstrated in the simulation?

The simulation shows how an applied force does work on the block, which results in a change in its kinetic energy. The simulation also illustrates how friction does work against the block, converting kinetic energy into thermal energy. The total energy of the system (kinetic and thermal) is conserved within the context of the simulation. The changes in these quantities over time and their relationships with force are clearly displayed through numeric readouts and interactive graphs.

• How can the simulation be used in an educational context?

This interactive model offers a way to explore the work-energy principle, allowing users to manipulate parameters and observe real-time changes in the block's motion and energy. The interactive graphs and numeric readouts can help students visualize and better understand the connections between applied forces, friction, motion, kinetic energy, thermal energy and total energy. The model can be used as a part of classroom demonstrations or by students to deepen their conceptual knowledge on the topic.

• Are there any limitations to the simulation, such as how friction is handled? The simulation specifies that friction is zero when the block is not moving and not attempting to move. This assumes static friction is automatically overcome and does not introduce the concept of static friction. This simplification allows the simulation to focus on kinetic friction's effect on energy during motion in region C.
• Where can I find additional resources or related simulations on the Open Source Physics @ Singapore platform?
• The page hosting this simulation includes a list of many related resources including other physics simulations. Some specific examples given on this page are simulations for topics including: magnetic fields, electrical circuits, projectile motion, waves, optics, kinematics, and dynamics. Additionally, the page also lists workshops, conferences, and awards related to the work of Open Source Physics @ Singapore.