Work & Power

Physics 2009
 Work
• In Physics, Work is done when a
force moves a body through a
distance.
• WORK = Force x Displacement
 Work Units
• Since, Force  Newton (N)
displacement  meter (m)
• DERIVED unit for work  Newton
meter (Nm).
• The FUNDAMENTAL unit for work is the
Joule.
• Joule (J) = N  m 1 JOULE = the
ability to exert a
force of 1 NEWTON
over a distance of 1
METER.
 Work
• Atlas bears the weight of the
world on his shoulders.
• How much work is done?

• NONE…… the world did not

move…The force must move
the object.
Work or No Work
• No work
Lifting occurs
your when: work
bookbag http://id.mind.net/~zona/mstm/physics/mecha
nics/energy/work/work2.gif

• Carrying your bookbag  no work

• A waitress carrying a tray around?
No work because the supporting force is
perpendicular to the motion.
• Work is done on an object only if the
object moves and only if the force and
displacement are in the same direction.
• DIRECTION IS THE KEY TO WORK….
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/imgmec/wnot.gif
 Work Problems
1. A force of 825 N is required to push
a car across a lot. Two students
push the car 35 m. How much
work is done?
F= 825 N
d = 35 m
W = Fd

Cutnell & Johnson, Wiley Publishing, Physics 5th Ed.

 Work Problems
What work is done by a forklift that raises
a 583-kg box 1.2m?
m = 583 kg
d = 1.2m
 Work
• To move a refrigerator into the
back of a moving van. Would you
prefer to lift it straight up or walk it
up a ramp?
• Which method required less work?
• Equal amounts of work are done.
• The ramp reduces the amount of
effort it takes to do work, but
DOES NOT CHANGE the amount
of work that is done.
 Work

• To calculate the work done in moving

the refrigerator into the truck, which
displacement do we use?
– The displacement from the start of the
ramp to the end, or the height of the
ramp?
• Since a force is being applied to move
the box upward, only movement in the
direction of the force counts, so we use
the height of the ramp.
 Work Problems
• An airplane passenger carries a
215N suitcase up a flight of stairs a
displacement of 4.2m vertically and
4.6m horizontally. How much work
have they done?
 Work
• Only force that is in the same
direction of the motion counts.
• If you pull a wagon at an angle, only
the horizontal part of motion counts –
only the horizontal part of the pull
does any work!

Cutnell & Johnson, Wiley Publishing, Physics 5th Ed.

 Work
• If the angle between force and
displacement is θ then
Fx = F cos θ
• Then the work done is
W = Fx x d= F cos θ d

W=Fd (cos θ)

Cutnell & Johnson, Wiley Publishing, Physics 5th Ed.

 Work

http://www.physicsclassroom.com/Class/energy/U5L1a.html
W = Fd cos θ
• If θ = 90o 
• W = Fd cos 90o
• So, W = 0
• Work is a scalar quantity.
• No direction is associated

Copywrited by Holt, Rinehart, &

with work even though it
depends on two vector
quantities.
 Work Direction
Positive and Negative Work
• When positive work is done
on an object, its speed
increases; when negative
work is done, its speed

Cutnell & Johnson, Wiley Publishing, Physics 5th Ed.

decreases.

Copywrited by Holt, Rinehart, & Winston

 Work Problems
• A 10-N frictional force
slows a moving block to a
stop after a displacement
of 5.0 m to the right. What
is the net work done on http://www.physicsclassroom.com/Class/energy/U5L1a.html

the block?
• A 10-N force is applied to
push a block across a
frictional surface at
constant speed for a
displacement of 5.0 m to
the right. What is the net http://www.physicsclassroom.com/Class/energy/U5L1a.html

work done on the block?

http://www.physicsclassroom.com/Class/energy/U5L1a.html
 Work Problems
A physics student pulls a box of books
as shown. The 455 N force is
applied along the rope itself. How
much work is done by the student on
the books if the box is dragged 24.5
m.

http://k12.albemarle.org/Instruction/Physics/energy2/test1c.htm
 Questionable Work
Which ramp requires more work to
move the car up a set height?
a. 30°
b. 45 °
c. 60 ° http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/hframe.html

d. work is equal http://www.physicsclassroom.com/mmedia/energy/au.html

Work Done by a Variable
Force
If the force changes with the displacement,
W=Fd is no longer valid
– Calculus is needed to calculate this directly
However, If force is plotted vs displacement the
work can be graphically found as the area
under the curve.

Constant Force Changing Force

Work Done by a Variable
Force
Varying Force of a Spring Calculate the work
Recall the spring force is
Fs = kx

So, the work is

 Work Overview

http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/wcon.html
 Review
• Work is dependent on 
force and displacement.
The amount of work that is done in moving a
same
50N box a distance of 30 m is the ______
whether it takes 1 minute, 1 hour, or 1 day.
more power to
• Power is different. It takes ______
move that 50 N box 30 meters in 1 minute
than it takes to move it the same distance in
1 hour.
• When you’re talking about power…
TIME MATTERS!
 Power
• Power is the rate at which work is done.
Work
Power 
Time
• Since work is equal to force x displacement: 
Force  Displacement
Power 
Time

http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/hframe.html
 Power Units
• Derived Units: Joule( J ) J

Second ( s ) s
• Fundamental Units:

Joule( J ) J
Watt (W )  
Second ( s ) s
• 1 kilowatt = 1 kW = 1000 watts
• 1 kWh (kilowatt hour) = 3.60 x 106 J
• 1 horsepower (hp) = 745.7 W
 Power Derivation

W Fd
P 
t t
d
 v
t
 P  Fv
P=Fv
 Power Problems
A small motor does 4000J of work in
20 seconds. What is the power of
the motor in watts?
W = 4000 J
T = 20 s
P=?
 Power Problems
An electric motor lifts an elevator that
weighs 1.2 x 104N a distance of
9.00 meters in 15.0 s. What is the
power of the motor in kilowatts?
F = 1.2 x 104 N
d = 9.00 m
t = 15.0 s
P = ? (kW)
 Power Problems
An electric motor develops 65 kW of
power as it lifts a loaded elevator
17.5 meters in 35.0 s. How much
force does the motor exert?
P = 65 kW = 65,000 W
d = 17.5 m
t = 35.0 s
F=?