Lesson 1 of 10 · Energy
Experiment⭐ 30 XP⚡ Spark LabWork Done Is Force Times Distance
Work Done Is Force Times Distance.
🎯 Your mission
Set it up. Test it. Be amazed.
⚡ The twist
Speed isn't the same as force. Don't mix them up.
Mind = Blown
🔥 A bolt of lightning is 5 times hotter than the surface of the sun.
Make a hypothesis first
Guess: where does the energy go?
What You'll Learn
Work is done when a force moves its point of application along its own direction: W = Fs, in joules. Hold a heavy bag still and you do no work in the physics sense, however tired your arm gets, because nothing moves.
Key Words
Tap a word to see its definition.
Materials Needed
- newton meter
- box with weights
- tape measure
- carpet tile
Safety First
- Pull steadily rather than jerking, and keep the path clear.
Steps
Read the explanation above and note the two key terms before you start.
Pull a loaded box a measured 2 m along the floor with a newton meter held horizontally, keeping the reading steady. Calculate the work done. Repeat on carpet and on tile and account for the difference.
Record what actually happened, including anything that did not match what you expected.
Write a conclusion that answers the question this lesson opened with, and state your uncertainty.
Check Your Understanding
Question 1
1 of 2A force of 25 N moves an object 4 m in the direction of the force. Work done is:
Where you see this in real life
This is why airplanes can fly and why rockets reach space.
Stretch Challenge
Try this in real life this week.
This week, find one thing in your house that turns one kind of energy into another.
For the dinner table
“Show me something at home that uses this kind of energy.”
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Work Done Is Force Times Distance
Set it up. Test it. Be amazed.
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