WHAT IS WORK ?

(IN PHYSICS)
Work
Do Now: In a physical sense, which do you
think is more work?
Write the question including the choices then write
your choice down.
Holding a 100 kg weight above your head.
Pushing really hard against a wall to the point of
exhaustion
Lifting a 10 kg weight above your head from the
floor
Pushing a 50kg box across the floor at a
constant velocity
Studying all night long for a physics test
What is Work?
Work is a force action over some distance to cause a change in
energy.
The amount of work done depends on two things:
a. The amount of force exerted and
b. The distance over which the force is applied.

There are two factors to keep in mind when deciding
when work is being done: something has to move and the
motion must be in the direction of the applied force.
Work can be calculated by using the following formula:
Work=force x distance
Units of Work
Work = Force x Displacement

The unit of force is Newtons (N)
The unit of displacement is meters (m)
The unit of work is newton-meters (N-m)
One newton-meter is equal to one joule (J)
So, the unit of work is a joule.
Work is a scalar, like energy.

Work is done on the books when
they are being lifted, but no work
is done on them when they are
being held or carried
horizontally.
In which of the following cases was work done:
1. Someone applies a force to a wall and becomes
exhausted.

2. A book falls off a table and free falls to the ground.

3. A waiter carries a tray full of meals above his head by
one arm straight across the room at constant speed.

4. A rocket accelerates through space.

Two students, Ben and Bonnie, are in the
weightlifting room. Bonnie lifts the 50 kg
barbell over her head (approximately .60 m)
10 times in one minute; Ben lifts the 50 kg
barbell the same distance over his head 10
times in 10 seconds.
Which student does the most work?
Which student delivers the most power
Explain your answers.
Ben and Bonnie do
the same amount of
work; they apply the
same force to lift the
same barbell the same
distance above their
heads.
Yet, Ben is the
most powerful since he
does the same work in
less time.
Power and time are
inversely proportional.

2. How much power will it take to move a 10 kg mass at
an acceleration of 2 m/s/s a distance of 10 meters in 5
seconds? This problem requires you to use the
formulas for force, work, and power all in the correct
order.
Force=Mass x Acceleration
Force=10 x 2
Force=20 N

Work=Force x Distance
Work = 20 x 10
Work = 200 Joules

Power = Work/Time
Power = 200/5
Power = 40 watts
Whats Up With Work?
Scenario A: A force acts rightward upon an object as it is
displaced rightward.
Scenario B: A force acts leftward upon an object which is
displaced rightward
Scenario C: A force acts upward on an object as it is
displaced rightward.
The least steep incline (30-degree incline angle) will require the
least amount of force while the most steep incline will require
the greatest amount of force. Yet, force is not the only variable
affecting the amount of work done by the car in ascending to a
certain elevation. Another variable is the displacement which is
caused by this force. A look at the animation above reveals that
the least steep incline would correspond to the largest
displacement and the most steep incline would correspond to
the smallest displacement.
How much Work is being done?
Diagram A Answer:

W = (100 N) * (5 m)* cos(0 degrees) = 500 J

The force and the displacement are given in the problem statement. It is said (or shown
or implied) that the force and the displacement are both rightward. Since F and d are in
the same direction,the angle is 0 degrees.

Diagram B Answer:

W = (100 N) * (5 m) * cos(30 degrees) = 433 J

The force and the displacement are given in theproblem statement. It is said that the
displacement is rightward. It is shown that the force is 30 degrees above the horizontal.
Thus, the angle between F and d is 30 degrees.

Diagram C Answer:

W = (147 N) * (5 m) * cos(0 degrees) = 735 J

The displacement is given in the problem statement. The applied force must be 147 N
since the 15-kg mass (Fgrav=147 N) is lifted at constant speed. Since F and d are in the
same direction, the angle is 0 degrees.
A force of 50 N acts on the block at the angle
shown in the diagram. The block moves a
horizontal distance of 3.0 m. How much work
is done by the applied force?
W = F * d * cos(Theta) W = (50 N) * (3 m) * cos (30 degrees)
= 129.9 Joules

How much work is done by an applied force to lift a 15-
Newton block 3.0 meters vertically at a constant speed?
To lift a 15-Newton block at constant speed, 15-N of force
must be applied to it (Newton's laws). Thus,

W = (15 N) * (3 m) * cos (0 degrees) = 45 Joules

Calculate the work done by a 2.0-N force (directed at a 30
angle to the vertical) to move a 500 gram box a horizontal
distance of 400 cm across a rough floor at a constant
speed of 0.5 m/s. (HINT: Be cautious with the units.)
Here is a good example of the importance of
understanding the angle between F and d. In this
problem, the d is horizontal and the F is at a 60-degree
angle to the horizontal. Thus, theta is 60 degrees.

W = (2.0 N) * (4.00 m) * cos (60 degrees) = 4.0 J