A constant force of 4 N acts on a body that moves 3 m in the direction of the force. What is the work done?

A constant force of 4 N acts on a body that moves 3 m in the direction of the force. What is the work done?

• A. 6 J
• B. 12 J
• C. 18 J
• D. 24 J

Answer: (B)

Work is the transfer of energy that occurs when a force moves a body through a distance. With a constant force, the work is W = F d cos(theta), where theta is the angle between the force and the displacement. Here, the force and the displacement are in the same direction, so theta = 0 and cos(0) = 1. Therefore W = 4 N × 3 m × 1 = 12 J. The other numbers would require different force values, distances, or a non-aligned direction, but with these given numbers the work done is 12 joules.

Work is the transfer of energy that occurs when a force moves a body through a distance. With a constant force, the work is W = F d cos(theta), where theta is the angle between the force and the displacement. Here, the force and the displacement are in the same direction, so theta = 0 and cos(0) = 1. Therefore W = 4 N × 3 m × 1 = 12 J. The other numbers would require different force values, distances, or a non-aligned direction, but with these given numbers the work done is 12 joules.