|
Title: What does it mean when a force acting upon an object is perpendicular to its displeacement? Post by: smnam on Jan 1, 2013 As the question says.
So, if a force of 20N acts upon an object of 3kg as it moves a distance of 4m, what is the work done if the force is perpendicular to the 4m displacement? Title: What does it mean when a force acting upon an object is perpendicular to its displeacement? Post by: tonya1807 on Jan 1, 2013 The question is deliberately confusing. If the force is perpendicular to the displacement, then that force has done no work ( because the force has moved no distance in the direction of the force . )
This trick question is usually asked about the centripetal force that makes things move in circles but does no work because the force is at right angles to the direction of movement. But in you question it is not clear that the object is going in a circle. The work done by the 20 N is still zero though. |