Final answer:
The work done by gravity when lifting a bucket can be calculated using the formula W = mgh, which expresses work in joules (J), correlating directly with kg x m²/s².
Step-by-step explanation:
The formula for calculating the work done by gravity on an object being lifted, such as a bucket of water from a well, is W = mgh, where W represents the work in joules (J), m is the mass in kilograms (kg), g is the acceleration due to gravity (9.8 m/s²), and h is the height in meters (m) that the object is lifted. Since work is defined as the force exerted on an object times the distance it moves (in the direction of the force), and gravitational force is equivalent to weight (mg), it's clear that work, or gravitational potential energy, does have units of kg x m²/s², which simplifies to joules (J). To calculate the work when lifting the bucket, you need to know the mass of the bucket with water and the height it was lifted. This will give you the gravitational potential energy (PEg) that the bucket gained during the lift, which is also the work done against gravity stated in joules (J).