Unit 3 · 3.2 — Work

Everything to learn here

• Concept: Work is the scalar measure of mechanical energy transferred into or out of a system by an external macroscopic force acting over a displacement.
• Concept: Only the component of force strictly parallel (or anti-parallel) to the displacement vector does work; perpendicular forces do zero work.
• Concept: Work can be negative if the force component opposes the displacement, removing energy from the system.
• Concept: The net work done on an object by all forces equals its total change in translational kinetic energy (Work-Energy Theorem).
• Equation: $$W=Fd\cos (\theta )\text{(Work done by a constant force)}$$
• Equation: $$W_{net}=\Delta K\text{(Work-Energy Theorem)}$$
• Equation: $$W=\int Fdx\text{(Work calculated as the signed area under a Force vs. Position graph)}$$
• Vocabulary: Work — The mechanical transfer of energy via a force.
• Skill: Mathematical Routines — Calculating the total work done on a system by determining the geometric signed area under a variable Force vs. Position graph.
• Skill: Describe how work is performed on a system by calculating the energy transferred through forces acting over a distance.
• Vocabulary: Vocabulary: Work — The energy transferred into or out of a system by a force exerted over a specific displacement.
• Skill: Calculate the work done by a variable force by finding the area under a force-parallel versus displacement graph.

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