Calculating Work Done by the Applied Force

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 136 views

Introduction

Work is a fundamental concept in physics that describes the transfer of energy from one object to another through a force applied over a distance. In this scenario, a suitcase is pushed on a flat surface with a force of 17.4 N at a $$48.2^{\circ}$$ angle over a distance of 6.25 m. However, a frictional force of 8.88 N is exerted back onto the suitcase, which affects the total amount of work done on the suitcase. In this article, we will explore the concept of work, the forces involved, and calculate the total amount of work done on the suitcase.

Understanding Work

Work is defined as the product of the force applied to an object and the distance over which the force is applied, provided that the force is applied in the direction of the motion. Mathematically, work (W) is represented as:

W = F * d * cos(θ)

where F is the force applied, d is the distance over which the force is applied, and θ is the angle between the force and the direction of motion.

Forces Involved

In this scenario, there are two forces involved: the force applied to push the suitcase (F1) and the frictional force exerted back onto the suitcase (F2). The force applied to push the suitcase is 17.4 N at a $$48.2^{\circ}$$ angle, while the frictional force is 8.88 N.

Calculating Work Done by the Applied Force

To calculate the work done by the applied force, we need to use the formula:

W1 = F1 * d * cos(θ)

where W1 is the work done by the applied force, F1 is the force applied (17.4 N), d is the distance over which the force is applied (6.25 m), and θ is the angle between the force and the direction of motion ($$48.2^{\circ}$$).

Plugging in the values, we get:

W1 = 17.4 N * 6.25 m * cos($$48.2^{\circ}$$) W1 = 17.4 N * 6.25 m * 0.669 W1 = 69.3 J

Calculating Work Done by the Frictional Force

To calculate the work done by the frictional force, we need to use the formula:

W2 = F2 * d * cos(θ)

where W2 is the work done by the frictional force, F2 is the frictional force (8.88 N), d is the distance over which the force is applied (6.25 m), and θ is the angle between the force and the direction of motion (180°, since the frictional force is opposite to the direction of motion).

Plugging in the values, we get:

W2 = 8.88 N * 6.25 m * cos(180°) W2 = 8.88 N * 6.25 m * -1 W2 = -55.6 J

Total Work Done

The total work done on the suitcase is the sum of the work done by the applied force and the work done by the frictional force:

W_total = W1 + W2 W_total = 69.3 J + (-55.6 J) W_total = 13.7 J

Conclusion

In this article, we explored the concept of work and calculated the total amount of work done on a suitcase that is pushed on a flat surface with a force of 17.4 N at a $$48.2^{\circ}$$ angle over a distance of 6.25 m. We found that the total work done on the suitcase is 13.7 J, which is the sum of the work done by the applied force and the work done by the frictional force. This calculation demonstrates the importance of considering all forces involved in a scenario when calculating work.

References

Halliday, D., Resnick, R., & Walker, J. (2013). Fundamentals of physics. John Wiley & Sons.
Serway, R. A., & Jewett, J. W. (2018). Physics for scientists and engineers. Cengage Learning.

Introduction

Understanding Work

W = F * d * cos(θ)

where F is the force applied, d is the distance over which the force is applied, and θ is the angle between the force and the direction of motion.

Forces Involved

Calculating Work Done by the Applied Force

To calculate the work done by the applied force, we need to use the formula:

W1 = F1 * d * cos(θ)

Plugging in the values, we get:

W1 = 17.4 N * 6.25 m * cos($$48.2^{\circ}$$) W1 = 17.4 N * 6.25 m * 0.669 W1 = 69.3 J

Calculating Work Done by the Frictional Force

To calculate the work done by the frictional force, we need to use the formula:

W2 = F2 * d * cos(θ)

Plugging in the values, we get:

W2 = 8.88 N * 6.25 m * cos(180°) W2 = 8.88 N * 6.25 m * -1 W2 = -55.6 J

Total Work Done

The total work done on the suitcase is the sum of the work done by the applied force and the work done by the frictional force:

W_total = W1 + W2 W_total = 69.3 J + (-55.6 J) W_total = 13.7 J

Conclusion

Q&A

Q: What is work in physics?

A: Work is a measure of the energy transferred from one object to another through a force applied over a distance.

Q: What is the formula for work?

A: The formula for work is W = F * d * cos(θ), where W is the work done, F is the force applied, d is the distance over which the force is applied, and θ is the angle between the force and the direction of motion.

Q: What are the two forces involved in this scenario?

A: The two forces involved in this scenario are the force applied to push the suitcase (F1) and the frictional force exerted back onto the suitcase (F2).

Q: How do you calculate the work done by the applied force?

A: To calculate the work done by the applied force, you need to use the formula W1 = F1 * d * cos(θ), where W1 is the work done by the applied force, F1 is the force applied, d is the distance over which the force is applied, and θ is the angle between the force and the direction of motion.

Q: How do you calculate the work done by the frictional force?

A: To calculate the work done by the frictional force, you need to use the formula W2 = F2 * d * cos(θ), where W2 is the work done by the frictional force, F2 is the frictional force, d is the distance over which the force is applied, and θ is the angle between the force and the direction of motion.

Q: What is the total work done on the suitcase?

A: The total work done on the suitcase is the sum of the work done by the applied force and the work done by the frictional force, which is 13.7 J.

Q: Why is it important to consider all forces involved in a scenario when calculating work?

A: It is important to consider all forces involved in a scenario when calculating work because the total work done is the sum of the work done by each force. If you do not consider all forces, you may get an incorrect answer.