Work
Work is the transfer of energy from one object to another to make it move.
There are 2 important parts to this definition.
1. Energy has to be transferred from one object into a different object. Energy transfer that happens inside one object doesn't count as work.
2. It must move! If you push on a wall with all your strength and it doesn't move, you've done no work (even though it feels like you have)
3. One last thing, as shown in the picture, the direction of the force and the direction that the object moves must be the same. If you hold something up then your force is in the upward direction. Then if you walk to the left your movement is to the left. Your force is up and your movement is left. They don't match up so it isn't considered work. This means that carrying anything is not work.
Work is calculated by multiplying force and distance and the unit for work is Joules or J.
If you push a box with a force of 50 newtons a distance of 2 meters how much work did you do?
Work = Force x Distance
Force = 50 Newtons
Distance = 2 meters
50 Newtons x 2 meters = 100 Joules
There are 2 important parts to this definition.
1. Energy has to be transferred from one object into a different object. Energy transfer that happens inside one object doesn't count as work.
2. It must move! If you push on a wall with all your strength and it doesn't move, you've done no work (even though it feels like you have)
3. One last thing, as shown in the picture, the direction of the force and the direction that the object moves must be the same. If you hold something up then your force is in the upward direction. Then if you walk to the left your movement is to the left. Your force is up and your movement is left. They don't match up so it isn't considered work. This means that carrying anything is not work.
Work is calculated by multiplying force and distance and the unit for work is Joules or J.
If you push a box with a force of 50 newtons a distance of 2 meters how much work did you do?
Work = Force x Distance
Force = 50 Newtons
Distance = 2 meters
50 Newtons x 2 meters = 100 Joules