Work is the measure of energy transfer that occurs when a force is applied to an object and that object moves in the direction of the force. It is directly related to force, as the amount of work done depends on the magnitude and direction of the force.
The equation for calculating work done from a variable force is W = ∫F(x)dx, where F(x) represents the variable force and dx represents the infinitesimal distance over which the force is applied.
The limits of integration can be determined by identifying the initial and final positions of the object, and then integrating the force function over the distance between those two points.
The unit of work is joules (J) in the SI system. It is related to the units of force (newtons, N) and distance (meters, m) by the equation W = Fd, where d is the distance over which the force is applied.
Yes, the work done can be negative if the force and displacement are in opposite directions. This indicates that the force is acting in the opposite direction of the object's motion, resulting in a decrease in its kinetic energy.