When we look at work and energy in physics, it’s important to know how they are related but also how they are different. Let’s break it down!

Definition:

• Work: Work happens when energy is moved because of a force over a distance. You can think of work as what you do when you push or pull something. Mathematically, work (W) is shown as:

  W = F × d × cos(θ)

  Here, F is the force applied, d is how far it goes in the direction you’re pushing or pulling, and θ is the angle between the force and where it moves.

• Energy: Energy is the ability to do work. It comes in different forms. Two main types are:

  • Kinetic energy: This is energy that something has when it’s moving.
  • Potential energy: This is energy that is stored and based on where an object is located.

Types:

• Work: Work can be:

  • Positive: When you lift a book, you do positive work because you push it up, and it moves up.
  • Negative: If you push a box but it doesn’t move, the work is zero (0). No movement means no work is done!

• Energy: There are different types of energy, like:

  • Kinetic Energy (KE): The energy of something that is moving. It can be calculated with this formula:

  KE = 1/2 × m × v²

  Here, m is the mass and v is how fast it’s going.

  • Potential Energy (PE): This is energy stored based on an object’s height. You can calculate it like this:

  PE = m × g × h

  Here, m is the mass, g is the pull of gravity (how hard it pulls us down), and h is the height from a starting point.

Relationship:

The work-energy theorem connects work and energy. It says that the work done on something equals the change in its kinetic energy.

In simple words, when you do work on an object, you change how much energy it has. For example, if you kick a soccer ball, your foot does work on the ball, giving it energy to move.

Understanding the differences between work and energy helps us learn important ideas in physics. It also shows us how energy conservation works in many situations, which is a key topic in Grade 11 physics classes.