Work & Power

The unit of work is the Joule

–Force x Distance = Work

–1 Newton x 1 meter = 1 Newton
meter
• 1 Newton meter = 1 Joule
 Example 1:
• A high jumper weighs 700 newtons.
What work does the jumper perform
in jumping over a bar 2.0 meters
high?
• Answer: W = F x d
• W = 700N x 2.0 m
• = 1400 nm
• = 1400 Joules
No work is done if there is no
distance!
• The statue of liberty has
been holding up her torch
for an awfully long time.
How much work has she
done?
• Answer: 0! Although it
takes a force to hold the
torch against the force of
gravity, there is no motion
so no work is done.
 Which does more work?

The net work is the force (weight) of the cart x

the vertical distance. This is the same in all three
cases. In the first, the force is less, but distance is
greater to reach the same vertical height.
 Example 2
• A force of 200N is required to push a
lawn mower. If 4000 J of work is
performed on the lawnmower, how far
does it move?
• Answer: W__
• F d
• 4000J__
• 200N d
• 4000Nm ÷ 200N
• = 20m
 Power
• Work done per unit of time

• Power = Work
• Time

• Power = Force x distance

• Time
 The unit of power is the watt

• Power = Work
• Time

• 1 watt = 1 Joule
• Second
 Example 3

• A crane lifts a car into a junk pile in 10 seconds.

What is the crane’s power if 120,000 J of work
are performed?
• Answer: Power = Work
• Time

• 120,000J =
• 10 sec
• 12,000 Watts
 Example 4
• A 750 N diver does a somersault off a
10m platform. It takes her 1.5 seconds
to hit the water. What is her power?
• Since work is Force x distance, the
power formula can be written as

• Power = Force x distance

• Time
 Answer:

•
Power = Force x distance
• Time
• Power = 750N x 10m
• 1.5 sec
• Power = 7500N m
• 1.5 sec

• = 5000 Watts
 Other units of power
• 1 kilowatt = 1000 watts
• 1 horsepower = 750 watts
• In the previous example, how many
kilowatts power was generated? How
much horsepower?
 Answer:
• 5000 watts ÷ 1000 kw/w = 5 kilowatts
• 5000 watts ÷ 750 hp/w = 6.7 horsepower