Work Done Calculator
Calculated Work:
' + workDone.toFixed(2) + ' Joules'; }Understanding Work in Physics
In physics, 'work' has a very specific meaning that differs from its everyday usage. Work is done when a force causes a displacement of an object. For work to be done, two conditions must be met:
- A force must be applied to an object.
- The object must move a certain distance (displacement) in the direction of the applied force.
If either of these conditions is not met, no work is done. For example, if you push against a wall with great force but the wall doesn't move, you haven't done any work on the wall in the physics sense, even though you might feel tired.
The Formula for Work
When the force is applied in the same direction as the displacement, the work done (W) can be calculated using a simple formula:
W = F × d
Where:
- W is the work done, measured in Joules (J).
- F is the magnitude of the force applied, measured in Newtons (N).
- d is the magnitude of the displacement (distance moved), measured in meters (m).
One Joule is defined as the amount of work done when a force of one Newton moves an object by one meter in the direction of the force (1 J = 1 N·m).
Examples of Work Done
- Pushing a Box: If you push a box across the floor with a force of 50 Newtons for a distance of 10 meters, the work done is W = 50 N × 10 m = 500 Joules.
- Lifting an Object: When you lift a 2 kg book (which has a weight/force of approximately 19.6 Newtons) from the floor to a shelf 1.5 meters high, the work done against gravity is W = 19.6 N × 1.5 m = 29.4 Joules.
- Pulling a Sled: A child pulls a sled with a force of 20 Newtons for 200 meters. The work done is W = 20 N × 200 m = 4000 Joules (or 4 kJ).
When is No Work Done?
- Holding an Object: If you hold a heavy bag stationary, you are applying a force, but there is no displacement. Therefore, no work is done on the bag.
- Movement Perpendicular to Force: If the force applied is perpendicular to the direction of motion, no work is done by that specific force. For example, when you carry a briefcase horizontally at a constant velocity, the upward force you exert on the briefcase is perpendicular to its horizontal displacement, so you do no work on the briefcase.
- No Force: If an object moves without any external force acting on it (e.g., an object sliding on a frictionless surface at constant velocity), no work is done by an external force.
This calculator helps you quickly determine the work done when a constant force is applied in the direction of an object's displacement.