WORK

Learning Objectives

• Describe work in terms of force and

displacement, using the definition of the
scalar product.
• Solve problems involving concept of work.
• Distinguish between the resultant work and
the work of a single force.
• Define the spring constant and calculate
the work done by a varying spring force.
Three things are necessary for the
performance of work:
• There must be an applied force F.
• There must be a displacement s.
• The force must have a component
along the displacement.

F F
q q
s
 If a force does not affect
displacement, it does no work.

The force F exerted on the

pot by the man does work.
F
The earth exerts a force W on
W pot, but does no work even
though there is displacement.
 Definition of Work
Work is a scalar quantity equal to the product
of the displacement s and the component of
the force Fx in the direction of the
displacement.
Systems of Units:
Displacement
System Force (F) Work (W)
(S)
Newton
MKS Meter (m) N-m or Joule
(N)
Dyne-cm or
CGS Dyne Centimeter (cm)
erg
ENGLISH Pound (lb) Foot (ft) ft - lb

Sign Convention:
•If the applied force is in the same direction as
the displacement, work done is positive.
• If the applied force is in opposite direction as
that of the displacement, work done is negative
 Positive Work
x F

Force F contributes to displacement x.

Example: If F = 40 N and x = 4 m, then

Work = (40 N)(4 m) = 160 Nm

Work = 160 J 1 Nm = 1 Joule (J)

 Negative Work
x f

The friction force f opposes the displacement.

Example: If f = -10 N and x = 4 m, then

Work = (-10 N)(4 m) = - 40 J

Work = - 40 J
Resultant Work or Net Work
Resultant work is the algebraic sum of
the individual works of each force.

x f F

Example: F = 40 N, f = -10 N and x = 4 m

Work = (40 N)(4 m) + (-10 N)(4 m)

Work = 120 J
 Resultant Work (Cont.)
Resultant work is also equal to the
work of the RESULTANT force.

4 m -10 N 40 N

Example: Work = (F - f) x
Work = (40 - 10 N)(4 m)

Work = 120 J
 Work of a Force at an Angle
F
ϴ s

Work = Fx s Only the x-component

of the force does
Work = (F cos q) s work!
Example 1: A lawn mower is pushed
a horizontal distance of 20 m by a
force of 200 N directed at an angle of
300 with the ground. What is the
work of this force?

F
Example 2: A 40-N force pulls a
4-kg block a horizontal distance
of 8 m. The rope makes an
angle of 350 with the floor and
uk = 0.2. What is the work done
by each acting on block?
Example 3: What is the resultant work on a
4-kg block sliding from top to bottom of the
300 inclined plane? (h = 20 m and mk = 0.2)
Graph of Force vs. Displacement
Assume that a constant force F acts
through a parallel displacement Dx.

Force, F
The area under the
curve is equal to the
F work done.
Area Work = F(x2 - x1)

x1 x2 Work  F Dx
Displacement, x
 Example for Constant Force
What work is done by a constant force of 40 N
moving a block from x = 1 m to x = 4 m?
Force, F
Work  F Dx
40 N
Work = F(x2 - x1)
Area
Work = (40 N)(4 m - 1 m)
1m 4m
Displacement, x Work = 120 J
 Work of a Varying Force
Our definition of work applies only for a
constant force or an average force.

What if the force varies with displacement as

with stretching a spring or rubber band?

F x

x F
 Hooke’s Law
When a spring is stretched, there is a restoring
force that is proportional to the displacement.

F = -kx

x The spring constant k is a property

of the spring given by:
F
m DF
K=
Dx
Work Done in Stretching a Spring
Work done ON the spring is positive;
work BY the spring is negative. x
From Hooke’s law: F = kx F
m
Work = Area of Triangle
Area = ½ (base)(height)
F = ½ (x)(Favg ) = ½ x(kx)

Work = ½ kx2
x
Compressing or Stretching a Spring
Initially at Rest:
Two forces are
always present: x x
the outside force
Fout ON spring and m
m
the reaction force Compressing
Fs BY the spring. Stretching

Compression: Fout does positive work and Fs

does negative work (see figure).
Stretching: Fout does positive work and Fs
does negative work (see figure).
Example 4: A 4-kg mass suspended
from a spring produces a displacement
of 20 cm. What is the spring constant?

20 cm F

m
Example 5: What work is required to
stretch this spring (k = 196 N/m) from
x = 0 to x = 30 cm?

F
30 cm
 General Case for Springs:
If the initial displacement is not zero, the
work done is given by:
Work  kx  kx
1
2
2
2
1
2
2
1

F
x1 x2
m
x1 x2 m