💪 Work & Power

Work & Power Simulator: W = Fd·cosθ and Why Carrying Does No Work

This work and power simulator makes the physics definition of work concrete: only the part of a force along the motion does work, W = F·d·cosθ. Push a box across the floor and change the angle of your force — straight along the motion gives maximum work, straight up (90°) gives exactly zero work no matter how hard you push, and a backward angle gives negative work that removes energy, like braking. A live work bar swings positive or negative and a card breaks down the along-motion force component, the work, the time, and the power P = W/t. The lab nails two ideas students find surprising: carrying a box horizontally does no work on it (force perpendicular to motion), and two people doing the same job differ in power only by how fast they finish. Predict whether the work is positive, zero, or negative before you run it.

What you can do in this simulation

• Push a box at any angle and watch W = F·d·cosθ, with the along-motion force component drawn
• See zero work at 90° and negative work beyond 90° on a live positive/negative work bar
• A card shows force component, work, time, and power P = W/t
• Do the same work in less time and watch the power rise
• Predict mode: call positive / zero / negative work; along-motion, perpendicular, and braking presets

Concepts covered

work · power · W = Fd cos theta · negative work · work-energy theorem · force component · energy transfer

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