Work
WORK IS THE RESULT WHEN A FORCE
IS APPLIED TO AN OBJECT WHICH
CAUSES CHANGE ITS MOTION AND
PRODUCES DISPLACEMENT.
CASES WHERE WORK IS DONE
To identify situations when work is done, the direction of
force and the displacement must be identified. Work is
done when the force applied makes an object move in the
same direction as the applied force.
POSITIVE WORK DONE ON AN OBJECT
When you push a cart to the
right, and it moves 5 m to the
right from its original position,
work is done.
Since the direction of the
applied force is the same as the
direction of the displacement,
NEGATIVE WORK DONE ON AN OBJECT
Work is also done when the force applied to a moving
object hinders displacement. Here, the object moves
in the opposite direction with the applied force. For
example, when you push a cart to the right on a rough
surface, the cart only moves a little. Friction hinders
the movement of the cart. There is work done by
friction on the object.
NEGATIVE WORK DONE ON AN OBJECT
Since the direction of the
applied force is opposite the
object’s motion that causes
the object to slow down, the
work done by friction is
negative.
NO WORK DONE ON AN OBJECT
There is no work done when the
force and the movement of an
object are perpendicular to each
other. For example, there is no
work when you lift a ball, and
you move 5 m to the right with
the ball.
NO WORK DONE ON AN OBJECT
Even if a strong force is
applied to an object and
the object does not move,
no work is done.
CALCULATING WORK DONE ON AN OBJECT
To calculate for work done on an object, use the equation
below.
where W is the work done by the force in Joules (J), F is
the force in Newtons (N), and d is the displacement in
WORK DONE ON AN OBJECT INCREASES
WITH FORCE APPLIED ON THE OBJECT
AND DISPLACEMENT.
THE UNIT FOR WORK IS THE NEWTON-
METER (N•M) OR JOULE (J). ONE JOULE
OF WORK IS EQUIVALENT TO 1 N•M.
A 1 KG CART THAT IS MOVING ALONG A
HORIZONTAL SURFACE FROM REST. IF THE CART
TRAVELED 5 M TO THE RIGHT, WHAT IS THE WORK
DONE ON THE CART WHEN THE FORCE APPLIED TO
IT IS 30 N EAST?
A 1 KG CART THAT IS MOVING ALONG A
HORIZONTAL SURFACE FROM REST. IF THE CART
TRAVELED 5 M TO THE RIGHT, WHAT IS THE WORK
DONE ON THE CART WHEN THE FORCE APPLIED TO
IT IS 30 N EAST?
Step 1: Identify what is required to find in the problem.
You are asked to calculate for work (W) done on the cart
A 1 KG CART THAT IS MOVING ALONG A
HORIZONTAL SURFACE FROM REST. IF THE CART
TRAVELED 5 M TO THE RIGHT, WHAT IS THE WORK
DONE ON THE CART WHEN THE FORCE APPLIED TO
IT IS 30 N EAST?
Step 2: Identify the given in the problem.
The mass of the cart as well as the displacement and
applied force are given.
A 1 KG CART THAT IS MOVING ALONG A
HORIZONTAL SURFACE FROM REST. IF THE CART
TRAVELED 5 M TO THE RIGHT, WHAT IS THE WORK
DONE ON THE CART WHEN THE FORCE APPLIED TO
IT IS 30 N EAST?
Step 3: Write the working equation.
A 1 KG CART THAT IS MOVING ALONG A
HORIZONTAL SURFACE FROM REST. IF THE CART
TRAVELED 5 M TO THE RIGHT, WHAT IS THE WORK
DONE ON THE CART WHEN THE FORCE APPLIED TO
IT IS 30 N EAST?
Step 4: Substitute the given values.
A 1 KG CART THAT IS MOVING ALONG A
HORIZONTAL SURFACE FROM REST. IF THE CART
TRAVELED 5 M TO THE RIGHT, WHAT IS THE WORK
DONE ON THE CART WHEN THE FORCE APPLIED TO
IT IS 30 N EAST?
Step 5: Find the answer.
Therefore, the work done to the cart by the applied force
is 150 N•m.
CALCULATING WORK DONE ON AN OBJECT
Whenever an object changes its vertical distance from the
ground, gravity acts on it. To calculate for work done by
gravity, let us start with the mathematical definition of
work.
Since F = mg,
CALCULATING WORK DONE ON AN OBJECT
where W is the work done by the force in joules (J), m is
the mass of the object in kilograms (kg), g is the
acceleration due to gravity , and d is the distance of the
object from the ground in meters (m).
WHAT IS THE WORK DONE BY GRAVITY ON A BALL
DROPPED 10 M FROM THE GROUND IF THE MASS
OF THE BALL IS 0.8 KG?
WHAT IS THE WORK DONE BY GRAVITY ON A BALL
DROPPED 10 M FROM THE GROUND IF THE MASS
OF THE BALL IS 0.8 KG?
Step 1: Identify what is required to find in the problem.
You are asked to calculate for the work (W) done by
gravity.
WHAT IS THE WORK DONE BY GRAVITY ON A BALL
DROPPED 10 M FROM THE GROUND IF THE MASS
OF THE BALL IS 0.8 KG?
Step 2: Identify the given in the problem.
The mass of the cart and the distance of the ball from the
ground are given.
WHAT IS THE WORK DONE BY GRAVITY ON A BALL
DROPPED 10 M FROM THE GROUND IF THE MASS
OF THE BALL IS 0.8 KG?
Step 3: Write the working equation.
WHAT IS THE WORK DONE BY GRAVITY ON A BALL
DROPPED 10 M FROM THE GROUND IF THE MASS
OF THE BALL IS 0.8 KG?
Step 4: Substitute the given values.
WHAT IS THE WORK DONE BY GRAVITY ON A BALL
DROPPED 10 M FROM THE GROUND IF THE MASS
OF THE BALL IS 0.8 KG?
Step 5: Find the answer.
Therefore, the work done by gravity on the ball is 78.4 J
In solving for unknown quantities, remember to:
● Check for the consistency of units; and
● Isolate the unknown quantity on one side of the
equation before substituting the given values.
Work is defined as the product of the force
1
applied to an object and its change in position.
Work is done when the force applied makes an
2 object moves in the same direction as the
applied force. Here, work is positive.
Work is done when the force applied to a moving
3
object hinders displacement. Here, work is
negative.
No work is done when the force and the
4
movement of the object is perpendicular to each
other.
Write W if there is work done on the object and
NW if there is none.
1. A boy carries a 10 kg backpack.
2. A boy carrying a backpack and moving 6 m to the
left.
3. Ken pulled his trolley bag 30 m to the right on his
way to the airport.
4. You pushed a 20 kg box full of books and it did not
move.
You need to lift a small box weighing 120 grams
and transfer it to a nearby table. The table has a
height of 1 feet. Calculate for the work done by
gravity done to lift the small box.