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Work Done

Moving something or heating something up requires energy. Work done is the amount of energy transferred.

Work done in a straight line

Work done in a straight line

  • Work done is measured in Joules (J).
  • It is given by the equation:
    • Work done = force applied × distance travelled
    • W = F × s
Work done at an angle

Work done at an angle

  • Sometimes the force, F, applied to an object is at an angle, θ, to the direction of motion.
  • In this case, we only consider the component of the force which is in the same direction as the direction of motion.
  • This gives us a more general formula for work done:
    • W = F s cos θ
  • If θ = 0, then cosθ = 1, and we return to the original equation W = F × s.
Jump to other topics
1

Space, Time & Motion

2

The Particulate Nature of Matter

3

Wave Behaviour

4

Fields

4.1

Circular Motion

4.2

Newton's Law of Gravitation

4.3

Fields

4.4

Fields at Work

4.5

Electric Fields

4.6

Magnetic Effect of Electric Currents

4.7

Heating Effect of Currents

4.8

Electromagnetic Induction

4.9

Power Generation & Transmission

4.10

Capacitance

5

Nuclear & Quantum Physics

6

Measurements

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