Work is said to be positive when _________.
- AOption (a)
force and displacement are opposite
- BOption (b)
no displacement occurs
- COption (c)
force and displacement are in the same direction
- DOption (d)
force is perpendicular to the displacement
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Correct answer
force and displacement are in the same direction
Why this answer is correct
The correct answer is force and displacement are in the same direction.
Key Points
- Work is defined in physics as the product of the component of the force in the direction of the displacement and the magnitude of that displacement.
- The mathematical formula for work is W = Fs cos θ, where F represents the magnitude of the force, s represents the displacement, and θ is the angle between the force vector and the displacement vector.
- Positive work is performed when the force acts in the same direction as the displacement. In this scenario, the angle θ is 0 degrees. Since the value of cos 0 is +1, the resulting work value is positive. Hence, statement 3 is correct.
- Examples of positive work include a horse pulling a cart on a level road or a person lifting an object from the ground (where the applied force and displacement are both upward).
- For work to be considered positive, the force must have a component that facilitates the motion of the object, typically occurring when the angle θ is acute (between 0 and 90 degrees).
Additional Information
- Negative Work: This occurs when the force and displacement act in opposite directions. Here, the angle θ is 180 degrees, and since cos 180 is -1, the work done is negative. A common example is the force of friction acting against a moving vehicle. Hence, statement 1 is incorrect.
- Zero Work (No Displacement): If an applied force does not result in any movement or displacement (s = 0), the total work done is zero. For example, pushing against a rigid stone wall that does not move results in no work. Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.
- Zero Work (Perpendicular Force): Work is also zero when the force is applied perpendicularly to the direction of motion. In this case, the angle θ is 90 degrees, and cos 90 is 0. An example is a coolie carrying a load on his head while walking on a horizontal platform; the force of gravity acts downward while displacement is horizontal. Hence, statement 4 is incorrect.
- Units of Work: In the SI system, the unit of work is the Joule (J), which is equivalent to 1 Newton-meter (N-m). In the CGS system, the unit is the erg. 1 Joule is equal to 10^7 ergs.
Important Points
- Nature of Quantity: Work is a scalar quantity, meaning it has only magnitude and no direction, despite being derived from two vector quantities (force and displacement).
- Dimensional Formula: The dimensional formula for work is [ML2T-2]. This is identical to the dimensional formula for Energy, confirming the Work-Energy Theorem, which states that work done on an object results in a change in its kinetic energy.
- Sign Significance: The sign of work (positive or negative) does not indicate direction in space but rather whether energy is being transferred to the object (positive) or removed from the object (negative).
- Total Work: When multiple forces act on a body, the net work is the algebraic sum of the work done by each individual force.