Question

10. How much total work do you do when you lift a 50 kg microwave 1.0 m off the ground and then push it 1.0 m

Answer 1

Work formula:

$W = Fd\cos(\theta)$

F = 50N, d = 1.0 m

When you lift something straight up, the angle of the force is 90º

cos(90º) is 0, so there's no work done when you lift the microwave off the ground

$W = (50N)(1.0)(0) = 0$

F = 50N, d = 1.0 m

When you push the microwave, the angle is 0º and cos(0º) is 1. So there is work done here:

$W = (50 N)(1.0m)(1)$

$W = 50$

total work = 50 joules