Work
In science, work is done when a force moves something in the direction of the force. It is the force times how far the thing moves that way, and it is measured in joules: lifting a weight of 1 newton by 1 metre is 1 joule of work. Pushing a wall that doesn't move, or holding a heavy bag still, can be tiring but does no work on it. Doing work on something gives it energy, which is why work and energy share a unit.
Depth 1 · Foundation
You know that work is done only when a force moves something in its own direction, can work it out as force times distance in joules, and can tell tiring jobs that do no work from ones that do.
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- 1
Foundation
You know that work is done only when a force moves something in its own direction, can work it out as force times distance in joules, and can tell tiring jobs that do no work from ones that do.
Your path here
What's still between you and Work, depth 1, in the order you can learn it.
Where it fits
Makes these deeper
Once you know Work, come back to these — they'll mean more.
- Inclined planeDepth 2Pushing along a ramp does the same work as lifting straight up.
- Measuring energyDepth 2The energy in food is measured in the same joules as work.
- PulleyDepth 2A smaller pull over a longer rope does the same work.
- Simple machinesDepth 2A machine's input and output can be measured as work.
- Stored energyDepth 2Lifting or stretching something is work, and that work is what gets stored.