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Energy - Definition of Work

Grade 7ICSE

Review the key concepts, formulae, and examples before starting your quiz.

🔑Concepts

Work is said to be done scientifically only when a force applied on a body produces motion in it.

Two conditions must be met for work to be done: (1) A force must act on the object, and (2) The object must be displaced (SS) in the direction of the force.

The amount of work done depends on the magnitude of the force (FF) and the displacement (SS) of the body.

If a force is applied but the displacement is zero (S=0S = 0), the work done is 0 J0\text{ J}. For example, pushing a stationary wall.

The S.I. unit of work is the Joule (JJ). It is defined as the work done when a force of 1 N1\text{ N} moves a body through a distance of 1 m1\text{ m} in the direction of the force.

Energy is the capacity to do work. Therefore, the S.I. unit of energy is also the Joule (JJ).

📐Formulae

Work (W)=Force (F)×Displacement (S)\text{Work (W)} = \text{Force (F)} \times \text{Displacement (S)}

1 Joule (J)=1 Newton (N)×1 metre (m)1\text{ Joule (J)} = 1\text{ Newton (N)} \times 1\text{ metre (m)}

W=F×SW = F \times S

💡Examples

Problem 1:

Calculate the work done by a person who uses a force of 50 N50\text{ N} to push a trolley through a distance of 10 m10\text{ m}.

Solution:

W=F×S=50 N×10 m=500 JW = F \times S = 50\text{ N} \times 10\text{ m} = 500\text{ J}

Explanation:

The work done is calculated by multiplying the applied force by the distance moved in the direction of the force.

Problem 2:

A student exerts a force of 100 N100\text{ N} to lift a bag to a height of 1.5 m1.5\text{ m}. Find the work done.

Solution:

W=F×S=100 N×1.5 m=150 JW = F \times S = 100\text{ N} \times 1.5\text{ m} = 150\text{ J}

Explanation:

When lifting an object, the force applied is equal to the weight of the object, and the displacement is the height reached.

Problem 3:

A man pushes a heavy concrete pillar with a force of 200 N200\text{ N} for 55 minutes, but the pillar does not move. How much work is done?

Solution:

W=200 N×0 m=0 JW = 200\text{ N} \times 0\text{ m} = 0\text{ J}

Explanation:

Since the displacement (SS) is 00, the total work done is zero, despite the force and time involved.