Question

How much work is done if you push a 200 N box across a floor with a force of 50 N for a distance of 20m

Answer 1

Answer: 1000 J

The Work
`W` done by a Force
`F` refers to the release of potential energy from a body that is moved by the application of that force to overcome a resistance along a path.

It should be noted that it is a scalar magnitude, and its unit in the International System of Units is the Joule (like energy). Therefore, 1 Joule is the work done by a force of 1 Newton when moving an object, in the direction of the force, along 1 meter:

`1J=(1N)(1m)=Nm`

Now, when the applied force is constant and the direction of the force and the direction of the movement are parallel, the equation to calculate it is:

`W=(F)(d)` (1)

When they are not parallel, both directions form an angle, let's call it
`\alpha`. In that case the expression to calculate the Work is:

`W=Fdcos{\alpha}` (2)

For example, in order to push the 200 N box across the floor, you have to apply a force along the distance
`d` to overcome the resistance of the weight of the box (its 200 N).

In this case both (the force and the distance in the path) are parallel, so the work
`W` performed is the product of the force exerted to push the box
`F=50N` by the distance traveled
`d`. as shown in equation (1).

Hence:

`W=(50N)(20m)`

`W=1000Nm=1000J` >>>>This is the work