Work & Energy: What is 1.89J of Work? Gravitational & Elastic Potential Energy

[Moose772]

So work is when a force causes a displacement of an object. So what does it mean when 1.89J of work is done by an applied force? Does it mean this amount of force is needed to cause a displacement? Also how and why does an object store energy? I'm really confused by gravitational and elastic potential energy.

 

[russ_watters]

So work is when a force causes a displacement of an object. So what does it mean when 1.89J of work is done by an applied force? Does it mean this amount of force is needed to cause a displacement?

Welcome to pf

Joules are the name of the unit of work, but it is just another name for Newton-meters. Newtons are the force. Meters are the distance. Multiply them together and you get the Joules.

Also how and why does an object store energy? I'm really confused by gravitational and elastic potential energy.

Objects don't really store energy except as heat. Systems store energy. Potential energy is the energy between two objects in a system.