"Work done by a constant force on an object is the product of the force and the distance moved by the object in the direction of the force" -textbook
There is work done ONLY if the direction of the force and the direction the item is moving are the same. In figure A, the direction of the force (the lifting) is upwards (defying gravity), and the book is moving upwards, so work is done. In figure B, the force is still moving upwards (the person is carrying the books) but the book is moving to the right, so there is NO work done.
Explanation:
Since the ratio is Cu/Fe, if some Fe were lost due to spillage, the Cu/Fe ratio would INCREASE because Fe would be lower.
