Finding Work Done by Force (F): Is it Fx or F?

Thread starter Miike012
Start date Oct 30, 2011
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Force Work Work done

In summary, the work done by a force is equal to the product of the force and the displacement in the direction of the force. However, if the force and displacement are not in the same direction, the work done by force is equal to the component of the force in the direction of displacement multiplied by the displacement. This is represented by Fx, which is the component of the force in the direction of displacement, while F represents the magnitude of the force. To calculate the work done by force when the force and displacement are not in the same direction, you must first find the component of the force in the direction of displacement by using the formula Fx = F * cos(theta), where theta is the angle between the force vector and the

Oct 30, 2011

Miike012

The question asks.. find the work done by Force (F)...
the answer given was found by the x component of Force (F)... so my question is, is this the work done by F_x or by F?

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Oct 30, 2011

sandy.bridge

When dealing with work, the component of force that is parallel to the displacement of the object is used for calculations. Work is equal to the dot product of the force and displacement vectors.

FAQ: Finding Work Done by Force (F): Is it Fx or F?

What is the definition of work done by force?

The work done by a force is defined as the product of the force and the displacement of the object in the direction of the force.

Is the work done by force always equal to the force multiplied by the displacement?

No, the work done by force is only equal to the force multiplied by the displacement when the force and displacement are in the same direction. If the force and displacement are not in the same direction, the work done by force is equal to the component of the force in the direction of displacement multiplied by the displacement.

What is the difference between Fx and F?

Fx represents the component of the force in the direction of displacement, while F represents the magnitude of the force. Fx is used to calculate the work done by force when the force and displacement are not in the same direction.

How do you calculate the work done by force when the force and displacement are not in the same direction?

To calculate the work done by force when the force and displacement are not in the same direction, you must first find the component of the force in the direction of displacement. This can be done by using the formula Fx = F * cos(theta), where theta is the angle between the force vector and the displacement vector. Then, the work done by force can be calculated by multiplying the component of the force in the direction of displacement by the displacement.

Can the work done by force ever be negative?

Yes, the work done by force can be negative when the force and displacement are in opposite directions. This means that the force is acting against the direction of movement, resulting in negative work being done. For example, if you push a box up a ramp, the force of gravity is acting in the opposite direction of the displacement, resulting in negative work being done by gravity.