Physics can be quite tricky if you are not well versed in the formulas. Keep reading to learn how to calculate work using very simple formulas.

Work can mean a lot of different things. In physics terms, work means the result obtained when a certain amount of force is applied to an object and it moves.

We apply this to hundreds of actions in our daily life. If there is no movement then no work is done. there will be some cases in which force will be applied but there will no movement. Here the work done is equals to zero.

The Formula of Work

To be able to learn how to calculate work, it is important to know what the two crucial elements are. The two important elements that make up work are force and displacement.

The basic formula in physics to calculate work is:

W = F * D

Where, W= work, F= force, and D= displacement

This formula is used to calculate work when both the force applied, and the displacement of the object is provided. There might also be sometimes when either the force or the displacement won’t be given.

Once you have these two, calculating work won’t be hard work anymore. simply multiply the given force and displacement. This will give you the value of work.

No Force Value Given?

Sometimes to make the question tricky you will not have the value of force. The reason why this might be the case is to make the problem even more challenging. To help you, you will have the value of mass and acceleration. this is nothing to worry about. We will use these values to find our required value of force.

To find out the value of force, all you have to do is multiply them both. Once you have the value of force, you can multiply with the given displacement and find work.

No Displacement Value Given?

Sometimes they will not give you the exact value of displacement. once again you do not have to worry. there is a very simple trick to solve this problem. Instead of the value of displacement, you will have the values of mass and acceleration.

Displacement is the amount of distance covered by an object in a particular direction in a specific amount of time. So, to find displacement, you will need to have the values of the time and the average velocity.

Once you figure out the values of average velocity and time from the question, all you have to do is multiply them and you will have the value of displacement.

Now use this value of D or displacement and enter it into the formula for work. Multiply both force and displacement and you will get the amount of work done on an object.

Finding Work with A Different Angle

There are different types of questions. The formula given above is for when you just have the force and the displacement.

Sometimes you will get an angle in the question. this will be alongside the force and displacement. You can use a protractor to find out the angle of the object.

Finding the angle is very easy and you just have to know the positioning of the tools. these questions are equally easy so do not get tensed at the angles.

Work Angle Formula

Once you have angle figured out there isn’t much that you would have to be. Start by making sure that you have a scientific calculator on hand. This scientific calculator will help you in finding out the Cosine value of the angle.

The new formula will be:

W= F x Displacement x Cosine

Use a scientific calculator and enter in the value of the angle given. This will give you a figure with decimal points more than often.

Now enter that value in your formula. But before doing that multiply the values of force and displacement given to you. When you have an answer, multiply that value with the value of the angle you just derived from the calculator.

Want to find other components?

The best thing about these formulas is that once you know the formula you will be good to go to solve any problem that comes your way.

In some numerical related to work, they will give you the value of the work done on the object and ask you to find out either the force, the displacement, or the angle using the same formula.

All you have to do is put the given values in their respective place and keep solving it. Move the unknown value to on find of the equals sign and the known values to the other. These are some of the simplest ways one can find the value of work.