Problem: When force and direction of motion are parallel, work is the product of force and distance, with work in Joules when force is in Newtons and distance in meters. How many Joules of work are done on an object when a force of 8 Newtons acts on it through a distance of 12 meters?
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Solution: Work is the product of force and distance. The force is 8 Newtons and distance as 12 meters. The work is the product ( 8 Newtons) ( 12 meters) = 96 Joules.
Generalized Response: The precise definition of the work done by a force is the product of the force component parallel to motion and the distance through which the force acts. In the present problem, force and distance are assumed to be parallel. In this case we can say that `dW = F `ds. We say that in order to perform this work `dW, we must expend energy `dW: the work done and the energy required to do the work are equivalent.
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Figure description: The figure below depicts a force acting on a moving object along a straight-line path from point A to point B. The force is considered uniform in the direction from A to B. The work done by the force is `dW = F `ds.
