Work, Energy and Power — Syllabus
NIOS · Class 12 · Physics
What Work, Energy and Power covers in NIOS Class 12 Physics: 4 topics, for the 2026-27 session. Part of the NIOS Class 12 Physics syllabus.
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Topics in Work, Energy and Power
1. Work – Scientific Definition and Formula
- In science, work is done only when a force causes displacement in the object it acts upon. Thinking hard, holding a heavy bag stationary, or pushing a wall – none of these count as work in physics bec
- Work is a SCALAR quantity – it has magnitude but no direction, even though both force and displacement are vectors.
- Work = (Component of force along displacement) × (Displacement) = F cos θ × d
2. Power – Rate of Doing Work
- Power tells us HOW FAST work is being done. Two engines doing the same work may differ in the time they take – the faster one is more powerful.
- Power is a SCALAR quantity.
- Average Power = Total Work Done / Total Time Taken.
3. Kinetic Energy and the Work-Energy Theorem
- Kinetic Energy (KE) is the energy possessed by an object due to its motion. KE = ½mv².
- KE is always POSITIVE (mass is positive, v² is always positive). It can never be negative.
- KE is a scalar quantity.
4. Potential Energy – Gravitational and Elastic
- Potential Energy (PE) is the energy possessed by an object due to its position or configuration. It is stored energy that can be converted to KE.
- Two types: (1) Gravitational PE – due to height in gravitational field. (2) Elastic PE – due to deformation of elastic objects like springs.
- Gravitational PE = mgh, where h is the height above a chosen reference level (usually ground level). The reference level is ARBITRARY.
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Central concept: Work, Energy and Power
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