Image: Wikimedia Commons

work

Energy transferred to an object via the application of force on it through a displacement

EntityQ42213

Also known as physical work · mechanical work

Subclass of: energy transfer
, physical quantity
, physical property
+1 more

Overview

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia · Read full article · Text CC BY-SA 4.0

In science, work is the energy transferred to or from an object via the application of force along a displacement. In its simplest form, for a constant force aligned with the direction of motion, the work equals the product of the force strength and the distance traveled. A force is said to do positive work if it has a component in the direction of the displacement of the point of application. A force does negative work if it has a component opposite to the direction of the displacement at the point of application of the force.

Overview

All data

60 statements · 20% with external sources · numbers in brackets are citations

Different from: mechanical work
work
Opposite of: heat
Defining formula: A = \int_{\Gamma} \boldsymbol{F} \cdot \mathrm{d} \boldsymbol{r}
1
Sources
1.Stated in ISO 80000-4:2019 Quantities and units — Part 4: Mechanics
View statement on Wikidata ↗
ISQ dimension: \mathsf{L}^2 \mathsf{M} \mathsf{T}^{-2}
In defining formula: A symbol represents: work
\boldsymbol{F} symbol represents: force
\boldsymbol{r} symbol represents: position vector
Quantity symbol (LaTeX): W unicode character: W
1
Sources
1.Stated in ISO 80000-4:2019 Quantities and units — Part 4: Mechanics
View statement on Wikidata ↗
A unicode character: A · notation: A/a
1
Sources
1.Stated in ISO 80000-4:2019 Quantities and units — Part 4: Mechanics
View statement on Wikidata ↗
Recommended unit of measurement: joule
3
Sources
1.Stated in ISO 80000-4:2019 Quantities and units — Part 4: Mechanics
2.Stated in SI Brochure (9th edition): Concise summary
3.Stated in ISO 80000-4:2006 Quantities and units—Part 4: Mechanics
View statement on Wikidata ↗
kilogram square metre per square second
1
Sources
1.Stated in ISO 80000-4:2019 Quantities and units — Part 4: Mechanics
View statement on Wikidata ↗
Disjoint union of: list of values as qualifiers list item: non-mechanical work, mechanical work

On other databases

34 identifiers linking work across the web's reference databases

Data quality

statements

20%

externally sourced

Source last edited October 31, 2026. AIDb refreshes this page daily.

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AIDb. (2026). work (Q42213). Retrieved from https://aidb.si/e/work-Q42213