SECTION 1 SECTION 1

 Plan and Prepare

Objectives
Recognize the difference
between the scientific and
Work
Key Term
Preview Vocabulary ordinary definitions of work.

Define work by relating it to

work

Academic Vocabulary Work is a term force and displacement.

that has both a common-use definition Definition of Work
Identify where work is being
and a formal science definition. In performed in a variety of
Many of the terms you have encountered so far in this book have meanings
in physics that are similar to their meanings in everyday life. In its everyday
everyday English, the word work is used situations. sense, the term work means to do something that takes physical or mental
to describe efforts directed toward Calculate the net work done effort. But in physics, work has a distinctly different meaning. Consider the
producing or accomplishing something, when many forces are applied following situations:
whether it is solving a problem in to an object. • A student holds a heavy chair at arm’s length for several minutes.
mathematics or in life. But in physics, the • A student carries a bucket of water along a horizontal path while
walking at constant velocity.
word takes a different and specific
It might surprise you to know that as the term work is used in physics,
meaning. In physics, work is not done there is no work done on the chair or the bucket, even though effort is
unless an object is moved as a result of required in both cases. We will return to these examples later.
the action of a force.
Work is done on an object when a force causes a displacement of
the object.

 Teach Imagine that your car, like the car shown in Figure 1.1, has run out of gas
and you have to push it down the road to the gas station. If you push the
work the product of the component car with a constant horizontal force, the work you do on the car is equal to
of a force along the direction of the magnitude of the force, F, times the magnitude of the displacement of
displacement and the magnitude
Demonstration of the displacement
the car. Using the symbol d instead of ∆x for displacement, we define
work for a constant force as
W = Fd
Work Work is not done on an object unless the object is moved with
FIGURE 1.1
Purpose Determine whether work is the action of a force. The application of a force alone does not
Work Done When Pushing a Car This person
done in various situations. constitute work. For this reason, no work is done on the chair
exerts a constant force on the car and displaces it to the when a student holds the chair at arm’s length. Even though the
Materials teacher’s text, spring scale, left. The work done on the car by the person is equal to the student exerts a force to support the chair, the chair does not
force the person exerts times the displacement of the car.
string move. The student’s tired arms suggest that work is being done,
which is indeed true. The quivering muscles in the student’s
Procedure Hang the textbook from the arms go through many small displacements and do work within
scale with the string. Hold the book the student’s body. However, work is not done on the chair.
stationary, have the students note the
scale reading, and record the weight (mg) Work is done only when components of a force are

©UpperCut Images/Getty Images

of the book. Ask the students if the parallel to a displacement.
When the force on an object and the object’s displacement
spring is exerting a force on the book. are in different directions, only the component of the force
Yes, the spring exerts a force on the that is parallel to the object’s displacement does work.
book that is equal to and opposite the Components of the force perpendicular to a displacement do
not do work.
book’s weight. Ask students if the spring
is doing work on the book, which is being Differentiated
154 Chapter 5
Instruction
held in a fixed position. No, because the
displacement of the book is zero. Below Level
Now lift the book by pulling up on Point out that although the crate in Figure 1.2 is
Untitled-7 154 5/9/2011 5:08:56 AM

the spring at a constant velocity and a large object, you can think of all of its mass as
have the students note the scale being at the object’s center. This simplifies the
reading. Again ask the students if the analysis of the situation as well as the calcula-
spring is doing work on the book. Yes, tions. At this point in their learning of physics,
the force of the lifting, equal in magni- students need not be concerned with the
tude to the weight of the book, is distribution of weight or mass.
upward, and the displacement is upward.
Have students calculate the amount of
work. m × g × h

154 Chapter 5
 For example, imagine pushing a crate along the ground. If the force FIGURE 1.2
you exert is horizontal, all of your effort moves the crate. If your force is at
an angle, only the horizontal component of your applied force causes a Definition of Work The work done Hold the book at shoulder height and
displacement and contributes to the work. If the angle between the force on this crate is equal to the force times the carry it across the room at a constant
displacement times the cosine of the angle
and the direction of the displacement is θ, as in Figure 1.2, work can be
between them.
speed. Ask students if work is being
expressed as follows:
done on the book. No, because the
W = Fd cos θ upward force is perpendicular to the
If θ = 0°, then cos 0° = 1 and W = Fd, which is the definition of work horizontal displacement.
d
given earlier. If θ = 90°, however, then cos 90° = 0 and W = 0. So, no work
is done on a bucket of water being carried by a student walking horizon-
tally. The upward force exerted by the student to support the bucket is
Classroom Practice
F
perpendicular to the displacement of the bucket, which results in no work
done on the bucket.
Finally, if many constant forces are acting on an object, you can find W = Fd cos Work
the net work done on the object by first finding the net force on the A 20.0 kg suitcase is raised 3.0 m above a
object. platform by a conveyor belt. How much
PHYSICS/ MC Fix 7-23
workPHis99done
Spec. Number on the suitcase?
PE C05-001-002-A 1
Net Work Done by a Constant Net Force Boston Graphics, Inc.
Answer: 5.9 × 10 J
617.523.1333
2

Wnet = Fnet d cos θ

net work = PROBLEM guide A

net force × displacement × cosine of the angle between them Did YOU Know? Use this guide to assign problems.
The joule is named for the British
physicist James Prescott Joule (1818– SE = Student Edition Textbook
Work has dimensions of force times length. In the SI system, work has
a unit of newtons times meters (N•m), or joules (J). To give you an idea of 1889). Joule made major contributions PW = Sample Problem Set I (online)
to the understanding of energy, heat,
how large a joule is, consider that the work done in lifting an apple from
and electricity. PB = Sample Problem Set II (online)
your waist to the top of your head is about 1 J.
Solving for:
PREMIUM CONTENT
W SE Sample, 1–3; Ch. Rvw.
Work Interactive Demo 7–10, 45–46, 50
[Link]
Sample Problem A How much work is done on a vacuum PW 8–11
cleaner pulled 3.0 m by a force of 50.0 N at an angle of 30.0° above PB 5–7
the horizontal?
F SE Ch. Rvw. 50
ANALYZE Given: F = 50.0 N θ = 30.0° d = 3.0 m
PW 5–7
Unknown: W=?
PB Sample, 1–4
SOLVE Use the equation for net work done by a constant force: d SE 4
W = Fd cos θ
PW Sample, 1–4
Only the horizontal component of the applied force is doing work on
the vacuum cleaner.
PB 8–10
W = (50.0 N)(3.0 m)(cos 30.0°) *Challenging Problem
W = 130 J

Continued
Problem Solving Work and Energy 155

Reality Check
Untitled-7 155
Review the equation for the net work done 5/9/2011 5:08:57 AM

by a constant net force, making sure students

understand that no net work is done on any
object being moved perpendicular to its
weight, regardless of the mass of the object
or the distance it moves. Students should
understand that the value of the cosine of
90° (0) will always result in zero net work
being done.

Work and Energy 155

 Work (continued)

 Teach continued 1. A tugboat pulls a ship with a constant net horizontal force of 5.00 × 103 N and
causes the ship to move through a harbor. How much work is done on the ship if it
Answers moves a distance of 3.00 km?

Practice A 2. A weightlifter lifts a set of weights a vertical distance of 2.00 m. If a constant net
force of 350 N is exerted on the weights, what is the net work done on the weights?
1. 1.50 × 107 J
2. 7.0 × 102 J 3. A shopper in a supermarket pushes a cart with a force of 35 N directed at an angle
of 25° downward from the horizontal. Find the work done by the shopper on the
3. 1.6 × 103 J cart as the shopper moves along a 50.0 m length of aisle.
4. 1.1 m 4. If 2.0 J of work is done in raising a 180 g apple, how far is it lifted?

Demonstration The sign of work is important.

Work is a scalar quantity and can be positive or negative, as shown in
Quantifying Work Figure 1.3. Work is positive when the component of force is in the same
Purpose Demonstrate the relationship direction as the displacement. For example, when you lift a box, the work
between the direction and the magni- done by the force you exert on the box is positive because that force is
upward, in the same direction as the displacement.
tude of a force.
Work is negative when the force is in the direction opposite the
Materials plastic sled or piece of displacement. For example, the force of kinetic friction between a sliding
cardboard, 3-m and 1-m lengths of rope box and the floor is opposite to the displacement of the box, so the work
done by the force of friction on the box is negative.
Procedure Attach both ropes to the If you are very careful in applying the equation for work, your answer
sled, and ask a student volunteer to sit will have the correct sign: cos θ is negative for angles greater than 90° but
on the sled. Ask students whether it will less than 270°.

require more force to pull the sled

across the floor with the 1-m rope or FIGURE 1.3
Negative (–) work Positive (+) work
with the 3-m rope. The 3-m rope will
Positive and Negative Values
require less force. Have a student try to of Work Depending on the angle, an
pull the sled with each rope and report applied force can either cause a moving F F
car to slow down (left), which results in
to the class which way is easier. Sketch
negative work done on the car, or speed
both situations on the board, emphasiz- up (right), which results in positive work
ing that the horizontal component of done on the car. d d

the force is smaller with the short rope

because it is held at a greater angle F F

above the horizontal.

d d

Differentiated
156 Chapter 5
Instruction
Below Level negative when the force is opposite the
Ask students how the two examples of
Untitled-7 156 direction of displacement. 5/9/2011 5:08:58 AM

negative work shown in Figure 1.3 could be

examples of positive work even though the
force remains unchanged. Students should
recognize that positive work is being done
if the car moves in reverse.
Ask students to explain how the examples
of positive work shown in Figure 1.3 should be
changed to show negative work. Students
should then understand that work is always

156 Chapter 5
 If the work done on an object results only in a change in the object’s
speed, the sign of the net work on the object tells you whether the
Teaching Tip
object’s speed is increasing or decreasing. If the net work is positive, the Write the following table on the board
object speeds up and work is done on the object. If the net work is
to help students remember the various
negative, the object slows down and work is done by the object on
something else. situations that affect the sign of work.

Force is in positive work

direction of
motion.
SECTION 1 FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT
Force opposes negative work
Reviewing Main Ideas motion.
1. For each of the following cases, indicate whether the work done on the Force is 90° to no work
second object in each example will have a positive or a negative value. motion.
a. The road exerts a friction force on a speeding car skidding to a stop.
b. A rope exerts a force on a bucket as the bucket is raised up a well. Object is not in no work
c. Air exerts a force on a parachute as the parachutist falls to Earth. motion.
2. If a neighbor pushes a lawnmower four times as far as you do but exerts
only half the force, which one of you does more work and by how much?
3. A worker pushes a 1.50 × 103 N crate with a horizontal force of 345 N a
distance of 24.0 m. Assume the coefficient of kinetic friction between the
Assess and Reteach 
crate and the floor is 0.220.
a. How much work is done by the worker on the crate? Assess Use the Formative Assessment
b. How much work is done by the floor on the crate?
on this page to evaluate student
c. What is the net work done on the crate?
mastery of the section.
4. A 0.075 kg ball in a kinetic sculpture moves at a constant speed along a
motorized vertical conveyor belt. The ball rises 1.32 m above the ground. Reteach For students who need
A constant frictional force of 0.350 N acts in the direction opposite the
conveyor belt’s motion. What is the net work done on the ball?
additional instruction, download the
Section Study Guide.
Critical Thinking Response to Intervention To reassess
5. For each of the following statements, identify whether the everyday or the
students’ mastery, use the Section Quiz,
scientific meaning of work is intended.
a. Jack had to work against time as the deadline neared. available to print or to take directly
b. Jill had to work on her homework before she went to bed. online at [Link].
c. Jack did work carrying the pail of water up the hill.
6. Determine whether work is being done in each of the following examples:
a. a train engine pulling a loaded boxcar initially at rest
b. a tug of war that is evenly matched
c. a crane lifting a car

Answers to Section Assessment Work and Energy 157

1. a. negative 4. 0.00 J
ntitled-7 157 b. positive 5. a. everyday sense 5/9/2011 5:08:59 AM

c. negative b. everyday sense

2. the neighbor; twice as much c. scientific sense
3. a. 8.28 × 103 J 6. a. yes
b. −7.92 × 103 J b. no
c. 3.6 × 102 J c. yes

Work and Energy 157