Work and Power

Work is done when a force is exerted on

an object and the object moves a
distance x.
Work = force ·distance
W = F · d
units: N·m = Joule
Work is a scalar quantity. For work to be
done, Force exerted must be in same
linear plane as distance.
 Work
When you hold something, are you
exerting a force on the object? Yes.
When you hold something, are you
doing work? No.
If you set the object on a table, does the
table exert a force on the object? Yes.
Does the table do any work? No.
When you hold something, then, you are not doing
work either.
Work
 Work

Work is only done by a force on an object

if the force causes the object to move in
the direction of the force.
Work: force needs to cause the
displacement
 Quick quiz: kahoot.it
A teacher applies a force to a wall and
becomes exhausted.  
 
A book falls off a table and free falls to
the ground.  
 
A waiter carries a tray full of meals
above his head by one arm straight
across the room at constant speed.
(Careful! This is a very difficult  
question that will be discussed in more
detail later.)
 
A rocket accelerates through space.
 
 Work

When a force is
applied at an angle,
use the component
of the force in the
direction of motion.
W =F cos(x)
Work Example 5A p.169
Copy and solve problem using
guess method in notebook
Bell ringer: copy problem and
solve using guess in notebook
Sheila has just arrived at the airport and is
dragging her suitcase to the luggage check-
in desk. She pulls on the strap with a force
of 190 N at an angle of 35° to the horizontal
to displace it 45 m to the desk. Determine
the work done by Sheila on the suitcase.
 POWER
• Power: the rate at which work is done.

P = W/t = Fd/t =

• Unit: J/s = W (watt)

• 1 kilowatt (kW) = 1000 W
• 1 horsepower (hp) = 746 watts
• Horsepower (hp): power produced by a typical
British working horse.
 Separate sheet of paper
• Renatta Gass is out with her friends.
Misfortune occurs and Renatta and her
friends find themselves getting a workout.
They apply a cumulative force of 1080 N
to push the car 218 m to the nearest fuel
station. Determine the work done on the
car.
• Hans Full is pulling on a rope to drag his
backpack to school across the ice. He
pulls upwards and rightwards with a force
of 22.9 Newtons at an angle of 35 degrees
above the horizontal to drag his backpack
a horizontal distance of 129 meters to the
right. Determine the work (in Joules) done
upon the backpack.
• During the Powerhouse lab, Jerome runs
up the stairs, elevating his 102 kg body a
vertical distance of 2.29 meters in a time
of 1.32 seconds at a constant speed.
• a. Determine the work done by Jerome in
climbing the stair case.
b. Determine the power generated by
Jerome.