A parent pushes a stroller with a 11.2 N force for 15.9 m. How much work did the parent do?

Question

Physics

Kelvin Bullock

13 April, 21:32

A parent pushes a stroller with a 11.2 N force for 15.9 m. How much work did the parent do?

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Daphne Baxter · Answer 1

The definition of work is that it is the Force applied over a distance, times the distance. The only trick is that you have to account only for forces in the direction of movement; any forces that are normal to the movement are not taken into account. Intuitively, work is generated only by forces that contribute to the movement (or go against it; same or opposite direction).

Let us see now: W=F*d = 11.2N * 15.9m=178.1 N*m=178.1 J where J stands for Joules. This is the work that the parent did, namely how much energy he had to put in to move the stroller.