Work U is defined as
Dynamics · FE Reference Handbook section
Core formulas for this FE topic
Definitions, applicability, units, assumptions and worked examples for each relation.
Worked exam-style examples
The four ways this section is written on the real exam — thoughts first, then equations, then substitution.
A dynamics problem uses Work–energy theorem. Given mass (m) = 300.0 kg; initial speed (v1) = 15.0000 m/s; final speed (v2) = 21.0000 m/s, determine the work done (W) in J.
Given
Find
work done (W), in J
Start with the thinking
- The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Work–energy theorem.
- Everything except W is given, so isolate W symbolically first — never rearrange after the numbers are in.
- Tabulate each given with its unit and confirm the units are consistent with the relation before substituting.
- Dynamics items reward recognising the unknown before touching a calculator.
Step-by-step solution
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange the relation so that W stands alone on the left-hand side.
Step 3 — List the givens: mass (m) = 300.0 kg, initial speed (v1) = 15.0000 m/s, final speed (v2) = 21.0000 m/s.
Step 4 — Substitute the given values into the rearranged relation.
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Step 6 — Check: returning W = 32,400 J to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
Why the other options are there
- 64,800 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
- 16,200 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
- 35,640 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.
Reference: FE Reference Handbook — Dynamics → Work U is defined as
A dynamics problem uses Work–energy theorem. Given initial speed (v1) = 3.0000 m/s; final speed (v2) = 24.5000 m/s; work done (W) = 308,420 J, determine the mass (m) in kg.
Given
Find
mass (m), in kg
Start with the thinking
- The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Work–energy theorem.
- Everything except m is given, so isolate m symbolically first — never rearrange after the numbers are in.
- Tabulate each given with its unit and confirm the units are consistent with the relation before substituting.
- Dynamics items reward recognising the unknown before touching a calculator.
Step-by-step solution
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange the relation so that m stands alone on the left-hand side.
Step 3 — List the givens: initial speed (v1) = 3.0000 m/s, final speed (v2) = 24.5000 m/s, work done (W) = 308,420 J.
Step 4 — Substitute the given values into the rearranged relation.
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Step 6 — Check: returning m = 1,043 kg to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
Why the other options are there
- 2,087 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
- 521.6 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
- 1,148 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.
Reference: FE Reference Handbook — Dynamics → Work U is defined as
A dynamics problem uses Work–energy theorem. Given mass (m) = 1,750 kg; initial speed (v1) = 5.5000 m/s; final speed (v2) = 38.5000 m/s, determine the work done (W) in J.
Given
Find
work done (W), in J
Start with the thinking
- The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Work–energy theorem.
- Everything except W is given, so isolate W symbolically first — never rearrange after the numbers are in.
- Tabulate each given with its unit and confirm the units are consistent with the relation before substituting.
- Dynamics items reward recognising the unknown before touching a calculator.
Step-by-step solution
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange the relation so that W stands alone on the left-hand side.
Step 3 — List the givens: mass (m) = 1,750 kg, initial speed (v1) = 5.5000 m/s, final speed (v2) = 38.5000 m/s.
Step 4 — Substitute the given values into the rearranged relation.
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Step 6 — Check: returning W = 1,270,500 J to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
Why the other options are there
- 2,541,000 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
- 635,250 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
- 1,397,550 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.
Reference: FE Reference Handbook — Dynamics → Work U is defined as
A dynamics problem uses Work–energy theorem. Given initial speed (v1) = 5.0000 m/s; final speed (v2) = 39.5000 m/s; work done (W) = 103,335 J, determine the mass (m) in kg.
Given
Find
mass (m), in kg
Start with the thinking
- The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Work–energy theorem.
- Everything except m is given, so isolate m symbolically first — never rearrange after the numbers are in.
- Tabulate each given with its unit and confirm the units are consistent with the relation before substituting.
- Dynamics items reward recognising the unknown before touching a calculator.
Step-by-step solution
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange the relation so that m stands alone on the left-hand side.
Step 3 — List the givens: initial speed (v1) = 5.0000 m/s, final speed (v2) = 39.5000 m/s, work done (W) = 103,335 J.
Step 4 — Substitute the given values into the rearranged relation.
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Step 6 — Check: returning m = 134.6 kg to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
Why the other options are there
- 269.2 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
- 67.3083 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
- 148.1 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.
Reference: FE Reference Handbook — Dynamics → Work U is defined as
A dynamics problem uses Work–energy theorem. Given mass (m) = 1,740 kg; initial speed (v1) = 1.5000 m/s; final speed (v2) = 17.5000 m/s, determine the work done (W) in J.
Given
Find
work done (W), in J
Start with the thinking
- The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Work–energy theorem.
- Everything except W is given, so isolate W symbolically first — never rearrange after the numbers are in.
- Tabulate each given with its unit and confirm the units are consistent with the relation before substituting.
- Dynamics items reward recognising the unknown before touching a calculator.
Step-by-step solution
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange the relation so that W stands alone on the left-hand side.
Step 3 — List the givens: mass (m) = 1,740 kg, initial speed (v1) = 1.5000 m/s, final speed (v2) = 17.5000 m/s.
Step 4 — Substitute the given values into the rearranged relation.
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Step 6 — Check: returning W = 264,480 J to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
Why the other options are there
- 528,960 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
- 132,240 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
- 290,928 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.
Reference: FE Reference Handbook — Dynamics → Work U is defined as
A dynamics problem uses Work–energy theorem. Given initial speed (v1) = 15.0000 m/s; final speed (v2) = 9.0000 m/s; work done (W) = 1,523,930 J, determine the mass (m) in kg.
Given
Find
mass (m), in kg
Start with the thinking
- The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Work–energy theorem.
- Everything except m is given, so isolate m symbolically first — never rearrange after the numbers are in.
- Tabulate each given with its unit and confirm the units are consistent with the relation before substituting.
- Dynamics items reward recognising the unknown before touching a calculator.
Step-by-step solution
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange the relation so that m stands alone on the left-hand side.
Step 3 — List the givens: initial speed (v1) = 15.0000 m/s, final speed (v2) = 9.0000 m/s, work done (W) = 1,523,930 J.
Step 4 — Substitute the given values into the rearranged relation.
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Step 6 — Check: returning m = -21,166 kg to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
Why the other options are there
- -42,331 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
- -10,583 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
- -23,282 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.
Reference: FE Reference Handbook — Dynamics → Work U is defined as
A dynamics problem uses Work–energy theorem. Given mass (m) = 1,040 kg; initial speed (v1) = 8.0000 m/s; final speed (v2) = 10.5000 m/s, determine the work done (W) in J.
Given
Find
work done (W), in J
Start with the thinking
- The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Work–energy theorem.
- Everything except W is given, so isolate W symbolically first — never rearrange after the numbers are in.
- Tabulate each given with its unit and confirm the units are consistent with the relation before substituting.
- Dynamics items reward recognising the unknown before touching a calculator.
Step-by-step solution
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange the relation so that W stands alone on the left-hand side.
Step 3 — List the givens: mass (m) = 1,040 kg, initial speed (v1) = 8.0000 m/s, final speed (v2) = 10.5000 m/s.
Step 4 — Substitute the given values into the rearranged relation.
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Step 6 — Check: returning W = 24,050 J to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
Why the other options are there
- 48,100 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
- 12,025 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
- 26,455 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.
Reference: FE Reference Handbook — Dynamics → Work U is defined as
A dynamics problem uses Work–energy theorem. Given initial speed (v1) = 8.5000 m/s; final speed (v2) = 16.5000 m/s; work done (W) = 218,712 J, determine the mass (m) in kg.
Given
Find
mass (m), in kg
Start with the thinking
- The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Work–energy theorem.
- Everything except m is given, so isolate m symbolically first — never rearrange after the numbers are in.
- Tabulate each given with its unit and confirm the units are consistent with the relation before substituting.
- Dynamics items reward recognising the unknown before touching a calculator.
Step-by-step solution
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange the relation so that m stands alone on the left-hand side.
Step 3 — List the givens: initial speed (v1) = 8.5000 m/s, final speed (v2) = 16.5000 m/s, work done (W) = 218,712 J.
Step 4 — Substitute the given values into the rearranged relation.
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Step 6 — Check: returning m = 2,187 kg to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
Why the other options are there
- 4,374 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
- 1,094 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
- 2,406 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.
Reference: FE Reference Handbook — Dynamics → Work U is defined as
A dynamics problem uses Work–energy theorem. Given mass (m) = 1,640 kg; initial speed (v1) = 3.5000 m/s; final speed (v2) = 25.0000 m/s, determine the work done (W) in J.
Given
Find
work done (W), in J
Start with the thinking
- The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Work–energy theorem.
- Everything except W is given, so isolate W symbolically first — never rearrange after the numbers are in.
- Tabulate each given with its unit and confirm the units are consistent with the relation before substituting.
- Dynamics items reward recognising the unknown before touching a calculator.
Step-by-step solution
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange the relation so that W stands alone on the left-hand side.
Step 3 — List the givens: mass (m) = 1,640 kg, initial speed (v1) = 3.5000 m/s, final speed (v2) = 25.0000 m/s.
Step 4 — Substitute the given values into the rearranged relation.
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Step 6 — Check: returning W = 502,455 J to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
Why the other options are there
- 1,004,910 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
- 251,228 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
- 552,701 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.
Reference: FE Reference Handbook — Dynamics → Work U is defined as
A dynamics problem uses Work–energy theorem. Given initial speed (v1) = 17.0000 m/s; final speed (v2) = 6.5000 m/s; work done (W) = 1,891,161 J, determine the mass (m) in kg.
Given
Find
mass (m), in kg
Start with the thinking
- The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Work–energy theorem.
- Everything except m is given, so isolate m symbolically first — never rearrange after the numbers are in.
- Tabulate each given with its unit and confirm the units are consistent with the relation before substituting.
- Dynamics items reward recognising the unknown before touching a calculator.
Step-by-step solution
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange the relation so that m stands alone on the left-hand side.
Step 3 — List the givens: initial speed (v1) = 17.0000 m/s, final speed (v2) = 6.5000 m/s, work done (W) = 1,891,161 J.
Step 4 — Substitute the given values into the rearranged relation.
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Step 6 — Check: returning m = -15,329 kg to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
Why the other options are there
- -30,657 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
- -7,664 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
- -16,861 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.
Reference: FE Reference Handbook — Dynamics → Work U is defined as