Work done calculators
This page contains a calculator for working out work done (W, J), as well as calculators with the equation rearranged to
make force (F, N) and displacement (s, m) the subject. The formulas are shown together with other useful information
and examples to try. It’s important to note that in this case W stands for work done, not watts.
Note: distance (d) is sometimes used instead of displacement (s), but these are equivalent. In other words W = Fd is the
same as W = Fs. Both will be used in the examples below.
Enter all figures without commas. For example, enter 2,400 as 2400.
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Calculate work done (J) from force (N) and displacement (s)
The equation for work done is given on the upper right.
Example: A particular person weighs 700 N (see note below). The
person travels 50 meters upwards in an elevator. What is the work done
on the person by the elevator?
In this case we simply enter the weight (700 N) and the displacement
(50 m) into the calculator and click or tap Calculate, to show that the
answer is 35,000 joules, or 35 kJ.
Note: Weight is not the same as mass. Weight is a measure of mass
when subject to gravity, but mass remains the same in all cases. So,
strictly speaking when we are measuring our weight on Earth we should
give the answer in newtons (N) rather than kilograms, stones or pounds.
Calculate distance (m) from force (N) and work done (J)
The equation for distance from force and work done is shown next to the calculator above.
Example: In this example I will use distance (d) instead of displacement (s), but the results are the same whichever
one is used. A sledge is pulled over some snow, which required a force of 200 N and the work done was 116,000 J.
What was the distance that the sledge was pulled?
Entering the work done (116000 J) and force (200 N) into the calculator and clicking Calculate shows that the
distance the sledge was moved was 580 meters.
The equation for distance is:
Where:
d = distance (meters, m)
W = work done (joules, J)
F = force (newtons, N)
Calculate force (N) from work done (J) and displacement (m)
The equation for force is given above right.
Example: A student picks a book from the floor and puts it onto a shelf
1.5 m high. The work done was 14.2 J. How much force was required
to do this?
Entering the data into the calculator and clicking Calculate gives an
answer of around 9.47 N.
The equation for force is:
Where:
F = force (newtons, N)
W = work done (joules, J)
s = displacement (meters, m)
The equation for work done is:
Where:
W = work done (joules, J)
F = force (newtons, N)
s = displacement (meters, m)
Work Done
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Work Done
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calculators
Work done calculators
This page contains a calculator for working out work done (W, J),
as well as calculators with the equation rearranged to make force
(F, N) and displacement (s, m) the subject. The formulas are
shown together with other useful information and examples to try.
It’s important to note that in this case W stands for work done,
not watts.
Note: distance (d) is sometimes used instead of displacement (s),
but these are equivalent. In other words W = Fd is the same as
W = Fs. Both will be used in the examples below.
Enter all figures without commas. For example, enter 2,400 as
2400.
Calculate work done (J) from force (N) and displacement (s)
The equation for work done is given below.
Example: A particular person weighs 700 N (see note below).
The person travels 50 meters upwards in an elevator. What is
the work done on the person by the elevator?
In this case we simply enter the weight (700 N) and the
displacement (50 m) into the calculator and click or tap
Calculate, to show that the answer is 35,000 joules, or 35 kJ.
Note: Weight is not the same as mass. Weight is a measure of
mass when subject to gravity, but mass remains the same in all
cases. So, strictly speaking when we are measuring our weight
on Earth we should give the answer in newtons (N) rather than
kilograms, stones or pounds.
The equation for work done is:
Where:
W = work done (joules, J)
F = force (newtons, N)
s = displacement (meters, m)
Calculate distance (m) from force (N) and work done (J)
The equation for distance from force and work done is shown
below.
Example: In this example I will use distance (d) instead of
displacement (s), but the results are the same whichever one is
used. A sledge is pulled over some snow, which required a force
of 200 N and the work done was 116,000 J. What was the
distance that the sledge was pulled?
Entering the work done (116000 J) and force (200 N) into the
calculator and clicking Calculate shows that the distance the
sledge was moved was 580 meters.
The equation for distance is:
Where:
d = distance (meters, m)
W = work done (joules, J)
F = force (newtons, N)
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Calculate force (N) from work done (J) and displacement (m)
The equation for force is given below.
Example: A student picks a book from the floor and puts it onto
a shelf 1.5 m high. The work done was 14.2 J. How much force
was required to do this?
Entering the data into the calculator and clicking Calculate gives
an answer of around 9.47 N.
The equation for force is:
Where:
F = force (newtons, N)
W = work done (joules, J)
s = displacement (meters, m)
