Question

The world's most powerful tugboats are built in Finland. One of these boats can do 9.8 × 107 J of work through a distance of 35 m. What is the force exerted by the tugboat?

Answer 1

2.8 x 10^6 N We have 9.8 x 10^7 J or 9.8 x 10^7 kg*m^2/s^2 of work done through a distance of 35 meters. Since work is defined as force over distance, that means that: F * 35m = 9.8 x 10^7 kg*m^2/s^2 Solving for F, gives F * 35m = 9.8 x 10^7 kg*m^2/s^2 F = 9.8 x 10^7 kg*m^2/s^2 / 35m F = 2.8 x 10^6 kg*m/s^2 F = 2.8 x 10^6 N So the force exerted by the tugboat is 2.8x10^6 Newtons.