Work and forces: Physics AQA: GCSE (9:1)

• Work (in terms of energy)


  A measure of the energy transferred from one store to another

  
• Work (in terms of forces)


  When the force causes a displacement of the object

  
• W = Fs

  The equation linking work, force and distance moved in the direction of the force (displacement)

  
• W

  The symbol for work

  
• F


  The symbol for force

  
• s


  The symbol for distance (moved in the direction of the force)

  
• Joules (J)

  The SI unit for energy and work

  
• Newtons (N)


  The SI unit for force

  
• Metres (m)


  The SI unit for distance

  
• What one joule is equal to

  The amount of work done done when a force of one newton causes a displacement of one metre (1 J = 1 Nm)

  
• Newton-metre (Nm)


  An alternative unit used to measure the work done by a force
• Effect of doing work against friction

  Work done against the frictional forces acting on an object causes a rise in the temperature of the object