How much work is done to hold a book at a constant height?

In summary, the work done to hold a book at a constant height is zero, as work is defined as the force applied over a distance. When holding the book stationary, no distance is covered in the direction of the force (gravity), thus no work is performed despite the force exerted to counteract gravity.
  • #1
ktsa
6
3
New user has been reminded to always show their work when posting schoolwork questions
Homework Statement
how much work is done to hold a 0.80 kg book at a height of 1.3 m above ground for 5.0 s ?
Relevant Equations
Please can anyone help me with problem? I don't know if the work is 0 J
Please can anyone help me with problem? I don't know if the work is 0 J
 
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #2
ktsa said:
Homework Statement: how much work is done to hold a 0.80 kg book at a height of 1.3 m above ground for 5.0 s ?
Relevant Equations: Please can anyone help me with problem? I don't know if the work is 0 J

Please can anyone help me with problem? I don't know if the work is 0 J
Per forum rules, you must show an attempt.
Explain why you think it could be zero.
 
  • Like
Likes Bystander
  • #3
I think it could be zero because no displacement done
But I am not sure of that.
Can you help me?
 
  • #4
Can you tell us how work is defined in your course materials? Then evaluate each part of the appropriate equation. This should help you be sure. The problem isn't just to get the right answer, it's to understand why that answer is correct.

An example:
How much power (P, in Watts) is dissipated in a 20 Ohm resistor that has 10 Volts across it?
I know that the power is defined as P = V⋅I. I also know V = 10 Volts.
To find P, we also need to know the current through the resistor (I, in Amps). For that I know that Ohm's law defines the current as I = V/R. Since I know V =10 Volts and R = 20 Ohms, the current I = 10V/20Ω = 1/2 Amp.
So, back to P = V⋅I = 10 Volts ⋅ 1/2 Amp = 5 Watts.

And... yes, I am sure because I trust in each step of the process. I think you might not be sure because you are skipping steps in your analysis.
 
  • Like
Likes scottdave and Lnewqban
  • #5
In fact, in this problem, I know that work can be calculated using the formula of
w= F d cos theta
W= KEf- KEi
W= EPf- EPi........ and so one.
But I ask for this because one other tutor said that the answer is 0 J because there is no displacement done, which can also be true. That is why I was wondering why it is not possible to use the change in potential energy to fing the work done when holding the book at that height.

Thank you
 
  • #6
ktsa said:
why it is not possible to use the change in potential energy to fing the work done when holding the book at that height.
What is the change in potential energy? What is the change in kinetic energy?
 
  • Like
Likes scottdave
  • #7
ktsa said:
W= KEf- KEi
W= EPf- EPi........ and so one.
Not quite correct. This really should be one equation W = (KEf + EPf) - (KEi + EPi). There are circumstances, like pendulums and orbits where the change in kinetic energy is exactly compensated by an opposite change in potential energy, with no net work done. Those formulas only work if you specify that the other sort of energy doesn't also change.

Energy can appear in different forms. It is all of the energy (the sum) that is conserved (unchanged without work being done).
 
  • Like
Likes scottdave and Lnewqban
  • #8
Ok. Thank you
 
  • #9
ktsa said:
...
But I ask for this because one other tutor said that the answer is 0 J because there is no displacement done, which can also be true. That is why I was wondering why it is not possible to use the change in potential energy to fing the work done when holding the book at that height.
I believe that the key is in the question:
“how much work is done to hold a 0.80 kg book at a height...

How did the book get there seems to be irrelevant in this case.
Potential energy is always a relative concept, and we always need to consider a change in height.
 
  • Like
Likes SammyS and ktsa
  • #10
ktsa said:
Homework Statement: how much work is done to hold a 0.80 kg book at a height of 1.3 m above ground for 5.0 s ?
I think this question is just a tad ambiguous because it does not specify the force that does the work. It could be the work done by gravity or by the hand holding the book or by the net force. Of course, in this case it doesn't matter because, as has already been argued, the displacement is zero hence neither force does work on the book and adding the two to get the work done by the net force yields zero.
ktsa said:
That is why I was wondering why it is not possible to use the change in potential energy to fing the work done when holding the book at that height.
Here is where it becomes important to know which force does the work. The change in potential energy is by definition the negative of the work done by a conservative force. You can use the definition here if the problem specifically asked you to find the work done by gravity but not if it asked you to find the work done by the hand.
DaveE said:
There are circumstances, like pendulums and orbits where the change in kinetic energy is exactly compensated by an opposite change in potential energy, with no net work done.
I find this statement misleading. Take a simple pendulum that swings from maximum height ##h## to the lowest point of the motion. There are two forces acting on the bob:
1. Gravity that does work ##W_{\!g}=mgh##.
2. Tension that does zero work, ##W_T=0##, because the force is always perpendicular to the displacement.

We have a system that conserves mechanical energy yet the net work, i.e. the sum of the works done by all the forces, is non-zero, ##W_{net}=W_{\!g}+W_T=mgh.##
 
  • Like
Likes MatinSAR, nasu and DaveE
  • #11
DaveE said:
There are circumstances, like pendulums and orbits where the change in kinetic energy is exactly compensated by an opposite change in potential energy, with no net work done. Those formulas only work if you specify that the other sort of energy doesn't also change.
kuruman said:
I find this statement misleading. Take a simple pendulum that swings from maximum height ##h## to the lowest point of the motion. There are two forces acting on the bob:
1. Gravity that does work ##W_{\!g}=mgh##.
2. Tension that does zero work, ##W_T=0##, because the force is always perpendicular to the displacement.

We have a system that conserves mechanical energy yet the net work, i.e. the sum of the works done by all the forces, is non-zero, ##W_{net}=W_{\!g}+W_T=mgh.##
Yes. I shouldn't have said that. The work-energy theorem...
 
  • Informative
Likes dlgoff

FAQ: How much work is done to hold a book at a constant height?

What is the definition of work in physics?

In physics, work is defined as the transfer of energy that occurs when a force is applied to an object causing it to move. The formula for work is W = F * d * cos(θ), where W is work, F is the force applied, d is the displacement, and θ is the angle between the force and the direction of displacement.

Is any work done when holding a book at a constant height?

No, when you hold a book at a constant height, no work is done in the physics sense. This is because there is no displacement of the book in the direction of the force (which is vertical). For work to be done, there must be movement in the direction of the applied force.

Why is no work done if the book is not moving?

No work is done if the book is not moving because work requires displacement. Even though you are exerting an upward force to counteract gravity and keep the book at a constant height, there is no movement in the direction of the force, so the displacement is zero. Therefore, the work done is zero.

Does holding a book at a constant height require energy?

Yes, holding a book at a constant height does require energy, but it is not considered work in the physics sense. Your muscles use biochemical energy to exert the force needed to counteract gravity and keep the book stationary. This energy expenditure is due to the biological processes in your body, not mechanical work.

What is the role of potential energy when holding a book at a constant height?

When holding a book at a constant height, the book has gravitational potential energy due to its position above the ground. This potential energy is given by the formula U = m * g * h, where U is potential energy, m is the mass of the book, g is the acceleration due to gravity, and h is the height above the ground. However, since there is no change in height, the potential energy remains constant, and no work is done.

Similar threads

Replies
4
Views
3K
Replies
40
Views
2K
Replies
2
Views
672
Replies
2
Views
422
Replies
12
Views
3K
Replies
5
Views
795
Replies
7
Views
2K
Back
Top