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1. Work
DEFINITION
- The product of a constant force magnitude and the
magnitude of the displacement
2. Joule
3. Energy
4. Potential energy
5. Kinetic energy
6. Power
7. Watt
8. Machines
1. WORK
Work is done on a body when force is applied causing that body to move.
Fig. 1.1. Work is done when a constant force F acts in the same direction as the
displacement, d.
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Work done, W, on a body by a constant force, F, acting on the body is defined as the
product of the magnitude of the force and the distance through which the object moves, or in
equation,
W = Fd
From the equation, work done on the body is greater if F is greater, or if d is greater,
or if both F and d are greater. The SI unit for work is
Unit of work = unit of F x unit of d
= newton x meter (N-m)
The unit N-m is given a special name, Joule, in honor of James Prescott Joule.
Therefore
1 joule (J) = 1 newton-meter (N-m)
What is the unit of work if F is in dynes and d is in cm? The unit of work
is dyne-cm, which is given a special name of erg. So,
1 erg = 1 dyne-cm
EXAMPLE:
Now consider the situation that follows. A bag is pulled as shown in Fig. 1.2. Is work
done on the bag?
A force F acts along the handle of the bag and makes an angle with the surface of
the table. A component of this force, Fcos, moves the bag along the surface of the table.
The work done on the bag is the product of this component of the force and the magnitude of the
displacement, d, along which the bag moves.
W = Fcos d
where is the angle (180 or less) between the direction of F and the direction of d. The F and d are
the magnitudes of the force and displacement vectors, respectively. They are both scalar quantities.
Also, we assume that the force and are constant while the object is having a displacement.
SAMPLE PROBLEMS:
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Example 1:
How much work is done when a force of 500 N is used to slide a heavy cabinet 1
meter across the floor?
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b.) Write the equation: The basic equation is also the working equation, which is
Work = Fcos d
c.) Substitute the given quantities into the working equation:
Work = 300 N x cos 30o x 5 m
= 300 N x 0.866 x 5 m
= 1 299 joules
SOLVE THE FOLLOWING:
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