Lesson Two: What is Work?
You do many kinds of work each day. In science, the word work has a different meaning than that such as completing a school assignment or mowing the lawn.
Work occurs when a force is used to make an object move. If the object moves in the direction you have pushed or pulled it, work has been done. The amount of work being done depends on two things: how hard you push or pull and how far the object moves.
Look at the examples of work below. In each picture the object in motion is dependent on how much force the person applies. The soccer ball will move farther the harder the boy kicks, or applies force to it. The bike will tires will move faster the harder the man pushes on the pedals. The rake will move faster the harder the man pulls it toward himself.
Look at the examples of work below. In each picture the object in motion is dependent on how much force the person applies. The soccer ball will move farther the harder the boy kicks, or applies force to it. The bike will tires will move faster the harder the man pushes on the pedals. The rake will move faster the harder the man pulls it toward himself.
Watch the following videos. What kind of work is being done – are things being pushed or pulled? What is being pushed/pulled? Who is doing the pushing/pulling? Are the objects to which force is being applied moving? Note the amount of force being applied and the distance each object travels.
(*Note: You may need to scroll down to the play button in order to watch view video clip.)