Work & Power

Goals of the Lesson

Explain how force does work on an
object
Calculate how work is done on an
object
Describe how work and power are
related and how they are different

What is Work?
An

object begins to
move only when
unbalanced forces act
on it
When an object is not
moving no work is
being done

What is Work?
Work

is the product of force (N)

and distance (m)
W = force x distance or W = N x m

What is Work?
Work

is done when a
force acts in the
direction an object
moves
Example: a
weightlifter moving a
barbell
Work is done when
the barbell is moving

What is Work?
When

the barbell is
held stationary over
the weightlifters
head - or if the
barbell is at rest
NO work is being
done!
No movement = no
work

What is Work?
Work

requires
motion &
direction
Work is
maximized when
force and motion
are in the same
direction

What is Work?
Holding

an object while walking does

no work on that object
Why?
The SI units of work is newtonmeters or Joules (J)

What is Work?
When

a force of one
newton moves an
object one meter - one
joule of work is done
James Prescott Joule
British scientist (late
1800s) known for his
research into work
and heat

What is Work?
Q:

A weightlifter lifts a 1200-newton

barbell over his head 2 meters
How much work was done? (Hint:
use W = N x m)
A: 2400 newton-meters or 2400
joules

What is Power?
Power

the rate at which work gets

done
More power is needed to increase
work at a faster rate
More work can be done or the same
amount of work can be done in less
time - with more power

What is Power?
Example:

trucks have a more

powerful engine than passenger cars
Trucks can move much heavier
objects over large distances
Therefore trucks can do more work

What is Power?
Power

= Work/time
Power is measured in SI units as
Joules per second (J/s) or watts (W)
A 40-watt light bulb uses 40 joules
every second!

What is Power?
Q:

a vertical force of 72
newtons is exerted to lift a
box 2.0 meters in 4.0 seconds
How much power is used to
lift the box?
Use P = F x d/t
A: 37 J/s or 37 W

What is Power?
James

Watt Scottish
scientist (late 1700s)
who invented improved
steam engines
Watt wanted to compare
his steam engines power
output to something that
people could relate to

What is Power?
Horses

were commonly used as a

source of power in the 1700s
Watt used horsepower to compare
his steam engines power output
After much experimentation Watt
found that one horsepower = 746
watts

What is Power?
A four-horsepower (hp)

lawnmower
engine has the equivalent power of
four strong horses
The new Ford Mustang with a V8
engine has an equivalent power of
420 horses!

Question:
Lifting a backpack full of books to
a desk 1 meter in height requires
200 joules of work in 2.0 seconds
How much power does it take to lift
the backpack?