What Does mechanical work Mean
Work is a notion with multiple meanings. In this case, we are interested in its meaning linked to the product of a force . Mechanical , on the other hand, is a term that is related to the branch of physics that focuses on the movement and balance of objects that are subject to the influence of a force.
Mechanical work is called that developed by a force when it manages to modify the state of motion that an object has. Mechanical work is therefore equal to the energy required to move the object in question .
Mechanical work requires a force capable of altering the state of motion of a body.
Physical quantity and equation
In this context, mechanical work can be understood as a physical magnitude of the scalar type, which is expressed by the unit of energy known as joule . Whenever a force is applied to a body and displaces it, it performs mechanical work that can be measured in joules.
When mechanical work (which is symbolized by a letter W , for the English term "work" ) is expressed through an equation, it is mentioned that W is equal to the force applied by the distance traveled. This is because mechanical work assumes that force is applied in a certain path.
Example of mechanical work
A simple example of mechanical work is found when a worker pushes a cart loaded with bricks from a sector of a work in construction to another. The person applies a force to move the truck: therefore, he performs mechanical work.
The application of this force is maintained until the man stops pushing the wheelbarrow; once you stop pushing (that is, doing mechanical work), the truck stops.
When a person pushes a wheelbarrow with bricks, he performs mechanical work.
Classification according to type
It is important that we also know that the work at hand, if we take into account both what is the displacement that it undertakes and the force and angle that they generate, can be classified into several types:
-The negative or resistant work, which would be, for example, the friction force and which is expressed by W <0. -Positive work, also called motor work, which is expressed in this way W> 0. A clear example of this type is the work done by an ox pulling a plow.
-Nil work, which could be that performed by anyone, in terms of strength and weight, when moving around in their car. It is expressed as follows: W = 0.
When talking about mechanical work, it is usual that, in the same way, one chooses to mention two other types of work that exist and that are especially used in the field of Physics, in order to understand the world around us. We are referring specifically to these:
-Electrical work, which, as its name indicates, refers to the set of charges and their movement within a specific electric field.
-Thermodynamic work. This comes to mention what is the set of changes that some bodies experience in terms of their volumes when they are subjected to different pressures or when they are subjected to different temperatures.