Question

a) Define the term ‘work’. Write the formula for the work done on a body when a force acts on the body in the direction of its displacement. Give the meaning of each symbol which occurs in the formula.

b) A person of mass 50kg climbs a tower of height 72 meters. Calculate the work done.

Answer 1

a) Work is done when an applied force produces motion in a body. 

Formula for work done is: 

W = Fs 

Where, 

W is the work done 

F is the force applied 

s is the distance travelled 

b) Mass of the person, m = 50kg 

Height of tower, h = 72m 

Acceleration due to gravity, g = 9.8 m/s² 

Work done, W = mgh = 35280 J