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MasterMath

Work and Energy Calculator

Work is force times the distance moved in the direction of that force. No movement means no work, however hard you push.

Result

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How this was worked out

    The formula

    W = F · d

    SymbolQuantityUnit
    WWorkJ
    FForceN
    dDistancem

    What it means

    In physics, work has a narrow meaning: energy transferred by a force acting through a distance. Holding a heavy box still is exhausting and does no work at all, because nothing moves.

    How to work it out by hand

    1. Take the force in newtons
    2. Multiply by the distance moved in metres
    3. Only the distance along the force counts

    What is worth knowing

    The 'in the direction of the force' clause is the one that matters. Carrying a suitcase along a level corridor does no work against gravity, because gravity pulls down and you move sideways — the two are perpendicular and the work is zero. Your muscles still burn energy holding it up, which is a biological cost rather than mechanical work, and that gap between the physics definition and the everyday one is why the term causes so much confusion. Work and energy share the joule as a unit precisely because work is energy transferred.

    Frequently asked questions

    Does holding something up do work?

    Not in the physics sense: nothing moves, so no work is done. Your muscles still use energy, which is a biological matter.

    Why does carrying a bag along a corridor do no work against gravity?

    Because gravity acts downwards and you move horizontally. Only motion along the force counts.

    What are the units of work?

    Joules, the same as energy, because work is energy transferred by a force.

    Can work be negative?

    Yes, when the force opposes the motion. Friction does negative work, removing energy from the system.