Calculating work done

We can calculate the work done by a force using the formula:

\text{work done} = \text{Force} \times \text{distance}

Or, in symbols:

W = Fd

Where:

• W is the work done, in joules, J
• F is the force applied, in newtons, N
• d is the distance moved in the direction of the force, in metres, m

Examples

A force of 10 N moves an object 5 m in the direction of the force. How much work is done?

• W=Fd
• F=10\,N
• d=5\,m
• W=10\,N \times 5\,m
• W = 50\,J

A force of 20 N moves an object 3 m in the direction of the force. How much work is done?

• W=Fd
• F=20\,N
• d=3\,m
• W=20\,N \times 3\,m
• W = 60\,J

200 J of work is done to move an object 4 m in the direction of the force. What is the force applied?

• W=Fd
• W=200\,J
• d=4\,m
• F=\frac{W}{d}
• F=\frac{200\,J}{4\,m}
• F = 50\,N

150 J of work is done to move an object 5 m in the direction of the force. What is the force applied?

• W=Fd
• W=150\,J
• d=5\,m
• F=\frac{W}{d}
• F=\frac{150\,J}{5\,m}
• F = 30\,N

250 J of work is done using a force of 25 N. How far does the object move in the direction of the force?

• W=Fd
• W=250\,J
• F=25\,N
• d=\frac{W}{F}
• d=\frac{250\,J}{25\,N}
• d = 10\,m

300 J of work is done using a force of 30 N. How far does the object move in the direction of the force?

• W=Fd
• W=300\,J
• F=30\,N
• d=\frac{W}{F}
• d=\frac{300\,J}{30\,N}
• d = 10\,m