Work
The energy transferred when a force acts over a distance: W = F·s·cos(θ), where F is force, s is displacement, and θ is the angle between force and displacement. Measured in joules (J). Only the component of force in the direction of motion does work. Work is related to energy change by the work-energy theorem.
Formula
W = Fs cos θ
Real World
A porter at Heathrow Airport carries a 20 kg suitcase horizontally along a corridor — despite exerting an upward force to support the bag, they do zero work against gravity because force and displacement are perpendicular.
Exam Focus
Include the cos θ term whenever force and displacement are not parallel; forgetting the angle is the most common error in 'calculate work done' questions.
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