Work WS 1/2

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Work 3.2

In science, “work” is defined with an equation. Work is the amount of force applied to an object (in the same
direction as the motion) over a distance. By measuring how much force you have used to move something over a
certain distance, you can calculate how much work you have accomplished.
The formula for work is:
Work (joules) = Force (newtons) × distance (meters)
W = F×d
A joule of work is actually a newton·meter; both units represent the same thing: work! In fact, one joule of work
is defined as a force of one newton that is exerted on an object to it a distance of one meter.
1.0 joule = 1.0 N × 1.0 meter = 1.0 newton-meter

How much work is done on a 10-newton block that is lifted 5 meters off the ground by a pulley?
Looking for Solution
The amount of work done by a pulley in unit of
newtons and meters. Work = 10 N × 5 m
Given Work = 50 newton-meters
The lift force applied by the pulley = 10 N
The distance the force was lifted = 5 meters. The pulley did 50 newton·meters or 50 joules of
work.
Relationship
Work = Force × distance
1 newton·meter = 1 joule

1. In your own words, define work in scientific terms. Be complete in your definition.

2. How are work, force, and distance related?

3. What are two different units that represent work?

4. For the following situations, determine whether work was done. Write “work done” or “no work done” for
each situation.
a. An ice skater glides for two meters across ice.
b. The ice skater’s partner lifts her up a distance of 1 meter.
c. The ice skater’s partner carries her across the ice a distance of 3 meters.
d. After setting her down, the ice skater’s partner pulls her across the ice a distance of 10 meters.
e. After skating practice, the ice skater lifts her 20-newton gym bag up 0.5 meter.
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5. A woman lifts her 100-newton child up one meter and carries her for a distance of 50 meters to the 3.2
child’s bedroom. How much work does the woman do?

6. How much work does a mother do if she lifts each of her twin babies upward 1 meter? Each baby weighs
90 newtons.

7. You pull your sled through the snow a distance of 500 meters with a horizontal force of 200 newtons. How
much work did you do?

8. Because the snow suddenly gets too slushy, you decide to carry your 100-newton sled the rest of the way
home. How much work do you do when you pick up the sled, lifting it 0.5 meter upward? How much work
do you do to carry the sled if your house is 800 meters away?

9. An ant sits on the back of a mouse. The mouse carries the ant across the floor for a distance of 10 meters.
Was there work done by the mouse? Explain.

10. You decide to add up all the work you did yesterday. If you accomplished 10,000 newton·meters of work
yesterday, how much work did you do in units of joules?

11. You did 150 joules of work lifting a 120-newton backpack.

a. How high did you lift the backpack?
b. How much did the backpack weigh in pounds? (Hint: There are 4.448 newtons in one pound.)

12. A crane does 62,500 joules of work to lift a boulder a distance of 25.0 meters. How much did the boulder
weigh? (Hint: The weight of an object is considered to be a force in units of newtons.)

13. A bulldozer does 30,000 joules of work to push another boulder a distance of 20 meters. How much force is
applied to push the boulder?

14. You lift a 45-newton bag of mulch 1.2 meters and carry it a distance of 10 meters to the garden. How much
work was done?

15. A 450-newton gymnast jumps upward a distance of 0.50 meters to reach the uneven parallel bars. How
much work did she do before she even began her routine?

16. It took a 500.0-newton ballerina a force of 250 joules to lift herself upward through the air. How high did she
jump?

17. A people-moving conveyor-belt moves a 600-newton person a distance of 100 meters through the airport.
a. How much work was done?
b. The same 600-newton person lifts his 100-newton carry-on bag upward a distance of 1 meter. They
travel another 10 meters by riding on the “people mover.” How much work was done in this situation?

18. Which person did the most work?

a. John walks 1,000 meters to the store. He buys 4.448 newtons of candy and then carries it to his friend’s
house which is 500 meters away.
b. Sally lifts her 22-newton cat a distance of 0.5 meter.
c. Henry carries groceries from a car to his house. Each bag of groceries weighs 40 newtons. He has ten
bags. He lifts each bag up one meter to carry it and then walks 10 meters from his car to his house.
6. 3,240 N [Note to teachers: Remember that the change of the exploding gunpowder for a longer time. This causes the
velocity of the batted ball is greater (94 m/sec) because it bullet of the rifle to reach a higher speed.
changes from a positive 44 m/sec to a negative 50 m/sec.] 11. If the force applied by the opponent's punch can be extended
7. 4.8 seconds over a longer time, the force of the blow is reduced,
8. When taking off or landing, a net force must be applied to a minimizing the chances of a knockout punch being delivered
person’s body to accelerate them at the same rate as the to the boxer.
accelerating airplane. When moving at constant speed, no net 12. Newton's 2nd law expressed as an equation is F = ma; since
force is applied to a passenger’s body. acceleration (a) is ∆v/∆t, F = m(∆v/∆t). Multiplying both sides
9. In order to break wood with the hand, a large force is applied of the equation by ∆t, the equation becomes F∆t = m∆v, the
in a short time. If the hand bounces, an even greater impulse expression impulse equals the change in momentum
is applied because there is a greater change in momentum. 13. Some activities that people do involve impacts that occur
The martial artist must take care to strike the wood with the either on purpose or by accident. Soft objects extend the time
fleshy side of the hand so that there is a smaller force applied over which the force of an impact is felt. This means that the
to the hand than there would be if the fingers or knuckles force felt by the person is less than it would be if the impact
were to hit the piece of wood. time was short. In other words, given the momentum of an
10. Because the barrel of a rifle is longer than a pistol's barrel, the impact situation, it’s important to increase time so that force
bullet from the rifle is acted upon by the expanding gases of is small.
3.1 Momentum Conservation
1. m = p/v; m = (10.0 kg·m/sec) / (1.5 m/sec); m = 6.7 kg 7. Answers are:
2. v = p/m; v = (1000 kg·m/sec) / (2.5 kg); v = 400 m/sec a. p = mv; p = (2000 kg)(30 m/sec); p = 60,000kg·m/sec
3. p = mv b. F∆t = m∆v
(mass is conventionally expressed in kilograms) F = (m∆v)/(∆t); F = (60,000 kg·m/sec)/(0.72 sec)
p = (0.045 kg)(75.0 m/sec) F = 83,000 N
p = 3.38 kg·m/sec 8. Answers are:
4. p(before firing) = p(after firing) a. P = (# of people)(mv); p =(2.0 × 109)(60 kg)(7.0 m/sec);
m1v1 + m2v2 = m3v3 + m4v4 p = 8.4 × 1,011 kg·m/sec
400 kg(0 m/sec) + 10 kg(0 m/sec) = 400 kg(v2) + 10 kg(20 b. p(before jumping) = p (after jumping)
m/s) m1v1 + m2v2 = m3v3 + m4v4
0 = 400 kg(v2) + 200 kg·m/sec 0 = 8.4 × 1011 kg·m/sec + 5.98 × 1024(v4);
(v2) = (-200 kg·m/sec)/400 kg
(v2) = -0.50 m/sec (v4) = (-8.4 × 1011 kg·m/sec)/ 5.98 x 1024
5. p(before throwing) = p(after throwing) Earth moves beneath their feet at the speed,
m1v1 + m2v2 = m3v3 + m4v4 v4 = -1.4 × 10-13 m/sec
0 = m1(0.05 m/sec) + 0.5 kg(10.0 m/sec) 9. Answers are:
m1 = (-0.5 kg)(10.0 m/sec)/ (0.05 m/sec) a. p = mv; p = (60 kg)(6.00 m/sec); p = 360 kg·m/sec
“Big” Al's mass + the skateboard (m1) = 100 kg b. vav = (vi + vf)/2; vav = (6.00 m/sec + 0 m/sec)/2 = 3.00
6. Answers are: m/sec
a. p = mv + ∆p; p = mv + F∆t
p = (80 kg)(3.0 m/sec) + (800 N)(0.30 sec) ∆t = d/∆V; ∆t = 0.10 m/3.00 m/sec; ∆t = 0.033 sec
p = 480 kg·m/sec F∆t = m∆V; F = (m∆V)/∆t;
b. v = p/m; v = (480 kg·m/sec)/80 kg; v = 6.0m/sec F = (60 kg)(6.00 m/sec)/(0.033 sec); F = 11,000 N
10. Since the gun and bullet are stationary before being fired, the
momentum of the system is zero. The “kick” of the gun is the
momentum of the gun that is equal but opposite to that of the
bullet maintaining the “zero” momentum of the system.
11. It means that momentum is transferred without loss.
3.2 Work
1. Work is force acting upon an object to move it a certain 11. Answers are:
distance. In scientific terms, work occurs ONLY when the a. 1.25 meters
force is applied in the same direction as the movement. b. 27 pounds
2. Work is equal to force multiplied by distance. 12. 2,500 N or 562 pounds
3. Work can be represented in joules or newton·meters. 13. 1,500 N
4. Answers are: 14. 54 N·m or 54 joules
a. No work done 15. 225 N·m or 225 joules
b. Work done 16. 0.50 meters
c. No work done 17. Answers are:
d. Work done a. No work was done.
e. Work done b. 100 N·m or 100 joules
5. 100 N·m or 100 joules 18. Answers are:
6. 180 N·m or 180 joules a. No work is done
7. 100,000 N·m or 100,000 joules b. 11 N·m or 11 joules
8. 50 N·m to lift the sled; no work is done to carry the sled c. 400 N·m or 400 joules (Henry did the most work.)
9. No work was done by the mouse. The force on the ant was
upward, but the distance was horizontal.
10. 10,000 joules