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w wo or rk k d do on ne e b by y a a f fo or rc ce e
If a force F

is performing on a particle and displacement of particle

becomes AB

then work done by this forceF

is in interval A to B will be
w F.AB =

for constants force F

and if force F

is variable then we will

have to split the path from A to B in small intervals and after that we will
have to include all the small works.
F
A
B
dw F.dr =

w =
2
1
F.dr
}

where 1 and 2 shows the position of A and B respectively.
It is important to notice that work is a scalar physical quantity and it can be +ve, may be ve and can be zero.
For work by constant force w = Fr cos 0
Work may be positive negative or zero
Positive Work Negative Work Zero Work Done
Work given by a force is
positive if angle between
the force and displacement
is less than 90
o
. In other
words work is positive if the
element of force is in the
direction of displacement.
Positive work on an object
increases its kinetic energy.
Work done by a force is
negative if angle between
force and displacement is
bigger than 90
o
.
In other words work is
negative if the element of
force is opposite to the
displacement.
Negative work on an object
decreases its K.E.
Work given by a force is zero if
(i) F = 0 (ii) s = 0
(iii) cos 0 = 0 0 = 90
o
.
When the force and the displacement are
perpendicular, the work done is zero. A
tension perpendicular to displacement
doesnt modify magnitude of velocity and is
only responsible for modification in direction
of motion. So zero work gives no change in
K.E.
Work done by a Variable Force: When the direction and magnitude of a force vary in three dimensions, it
may be expressed as a function of the position. For a variable force work is determined for infinitely small
displacement and for this displacement force is taken to be constant
h
Mg
x
| |

\ .
The total work done will be addition of infinitesimal small work,
,
B B
A B
A A
W F ds Fcos ds

= = 0
} }


In terms of rectangular components,
x y z

F F i F j F k = + +

,

ds dx i dy j dzk = + +

B B B
A A A
x y z
A B x y z
x y x
W F dx F dy F dz

= + +
} } }
Graphically area inside the force-displacement graph is the work done.
+ve work
x
F.
-ve work
+ve work
F.
+ve work
z
F.
Work Done by Several Forces: When several forces perform on a body then the net work done on the body
is the algebraic sum of work done by individual forces.
net 1 1 2 2 n n
W F s F s ......... F .s = + + +


Here
1 2 n
s , s ........ s

are the displacements of points of application of forces
1 2 n
F, F ........F

respectively.
In case of tight body and pure translational motion we get
1 2 3
s s s ........s = =

net 1 2 n
W F.s F .s. ....... F .s = + + +


,
net 1 2 n
W F.s F .s. ....... F .s = + + +


net net
W F .s =


When there is no reformation or deformation and no rotation is involved.