First peerson to define work as W = F d.

  • Thread starter carvajal57
  • Start date
  • Tags
    Work
In summary, Gustave-Gaspard Coriolis (1792-1843) was the first person to define work as W = Fd, and his contributions to the concept were examined in detail by I Grattan-Guinness in 1984.
  • #1
carvajal57
1
0
Please, can someone tell me who was the first person to define work as we currently use, that is, W = F d? Thank you.

mc
 
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #2
carvajal57 said:
Please, can someone tell me who was the first person to define work as we currently use, that is, W = F d? Thank you.

mc

According the article below, it was Gustave-Gaspard Coriolis (1792-1843) who:
"The modern statement: "work is force times path" is due to French physicist Gustave-Gaspard Coriolis,[1] who gave the correct formula for change in kinetic energy associated with work[/quote]
http://en.citizendium.org/wiki/Work_(Physics)

The acclaimed website, MacTutor History of Mathematics Archive,
http://www-history.mcs.st-and.ac.uk/

has the following biography on him:
http://www-history.mcs.st-and.ac.uk/Biographies/Coriolis.html
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #3
From the MacTutor biography, we learn of an article from 1984 that examines in detail the relative contributions of Poncelet, Navier and Coriolis to the concept of "work":

"I Grattan-Guinness, Work for the workers : advances in engineering mechanics and instruction in France, 1800-1830, Ann. of Sci. 41 (1) (1984), 1-33."
 

FAQ: First peerson to define work as W = F d.

What is the significance of defining work as W = F d?

The equation W = F d is significant because it provides a quantifiable way to measure work, which was previously thought of as a vague concept. It allows for a clear understanding and comparison of the amount of work being done in different situations.

Who was the first person to define work as W = F d?

The first person to define work as W = F d was the French mathematician and physicist, Gaspard-Gustave Coriolis, in 1829.

Is the equation W = F d still valid in modern science?

Yes, the equation W = F d is still considered valid in modern science and is used extensively in physics, engineering, and other scientific fields.

What are the units of measurement for each variable in the equation W = F d?

The unit for work (W) is joules (J), the unit for force (F) is newtons (N), and the unit for distance (d) is meters (m).

Can the equation W = F d be applied to all types of work?

No, the equation W = F d is specifically applicable to work done by a constant force in a straight line. For more complex situations, other equations and principles must be used.

Similar threads

Replies
2
Views
424
Replies
3
Views
958
Replies
9
Views
1K
Replies
24
Views
2K
Replies
12
Views
2K
Replies
16
Views
2K
Replies
9
Views
984
Back
Top