Work is done when
a force is applied or an object OR
a force causes an object to move
I think the second one.
You are correct, work is done when a force causes an object to move. Let me explain further how work is defined and calculated.
In physics, work is defined as the transfer of energy that occurs when a force is applied to an object and causes it to move in the direction of the force. Work is directly related to the force applied, the displacement of the object, and the angle between the force and the displacement.
The equation to calculate work is given by:
Work = Force × Distance × cos(θ)
Where:
- Work is measured in joules (J)
- Force is the magnitude of the force applied (measured in newtons, N)
- Distance is the displacement of the object in the direction of the force (measured in meters, m)
- θ (theta) is the angle between the force vector and displacement vector (measured in degrees or radians)
When the force and displacement are parallel (θ = 0 degrees or 180 degrees), the cos(θ) term equals 1, and the work formula simplifies to:
Work = Force × Distance
This means that work is directly proportional to both the applied force and the distance over which the force is exerted. As long as the force causes an object to move, work is being done.