Forces are really important when it comes to understanding how work is done on an object.

So, what is work?

What is Work?

Work happens when energy is transferred to an object because of a force acting on it over a distance.

We can think of work using this formula:

Work (W) = Force (F) x Distance (d) x Cosine of the angle (θ)

Here's what each part means:

• W is the work done, measured in joules (J).
• F is the force applied, measured in newtons (N).
• d is the distance the object moves in the direction of the force, measured in meters (m).
• θ is the angle between the direction of the force and the way the object moves.

Two Types of Work

There are two kinds of work:

1. Positive Work:

   • When the force and the movement are in the same direction (like pushing a box), we have positive work.
   • This means we are adding energy to the object.

2. Negative Work:

   • When the force and the movement are in opposite directions (like friction trying to stop something), we have negative work.
   • This means energy is being taken away from the object.

Units of Work

• One joule (J) is equal to one newton (N) times one meter (m).
• Common forces you might hear about are gravity (about 9.81 N/kg on Earth) and friction.
• These forces affect how much work is done and how well energy is used in different situations.

By understanding these ideas, we can better see how work, energy, and forces work together when things move.