W O R K

Work and Force are not the same Work and Force are not the same. In order for you to do Work on an object, it has to move. Even though you can exert a great deal of force on something – no Work is done until it moves. In addition, in order for work to take place, the object has to move in the same direction of the force applied.

The amount of Work done can be calculated if we know the amount of Force applied as well as the Distance the object moves. W = F × D Because force is measured in Newtons and Distance is measured in Meters, Work is measured in: newton - meters This is more commonly called a joule. Once we know the amount of work we can calculate Power. Power considers not only work but time as well: P = W / t The answer – in joules per second, is commonly called a watt

A machine is a device that allows work to be done in a way that is easier or more effective. A machine does this by changing the amount of force you exert, the distance that this force is exerted, or the direction that this force goes in. A machine can be very simple or very complicated, but must carry out one or more of these purposes to be effective. However, a machine doesn’t increase the amount of work done. The amount of work the machine does is never as much as the work put in. The machine just amplifies or re-directs force. Bottom Line…. Because of friction, heat and other factors, a machine can never be 100% efficient. Some energy is always lost in the process.