The work formula
Work is force applied over a distance in the direction of motion: W = F·d, where F is force in newtons and d is distance in meters. A 20 N force moving an object 5 m does 100 J of work. Work transfers energy, so its result is in joules. To turn that energy into power, see the horsepower calculator.
Because a joule is a newton-metre, the units carry the meaning: pushing harder or pushing further both raise the energy transferred, and doubling either one doubles the work.
How to use this calculator
Enter the force in newtons and the distance in meters. The result is work in joules (J). This assumes the force acts along the direction of motion; if the force is at an angle, only the component along the path does work. Compare stored energy with the potential energy calculator.
For an angled push, multiply the force by cos of the angle before entering it. Note also that holding a heavy object still does no work in the physical sense, however tiring it feels, because the distance moved is zero. Masses in kilograms must be converted to newtons by multiplying by 9.81 before use.
Worked example
Push a box with 20 N of force across 5 m of floor: 20 × 5 = 100 J. If you double the distance to 10 m, you do 200 J of work, since work grows in proportion to distance.
Those 100 joules do not vanish — they become kinetic energy if the box speeds up, or heat in the floor and box if friction cancels the push and the speed stays constant. Work is a measure of energy transferred, so tracking where it went is the basis of every energy balance in mechanics. Divide the work by the time it took and you have the average power.
Frequently asked questions
- How do I calculate work?
- Multiply force by the distance moved in the direction of the force: W = F·d.
- What are the units of work?
- Joules (J), which equal newton-meters (N·m).
- Is work done if there is no movement?
- No. If distance is zero, no work is done even if a force is applied.
- How does work relate to energy?
- Work is the transfer of energy. Doing work on an object changes its energy by the same amount.
- Can work be negative?
- Yes. When the force opposes the motion — friction, or lowering a load against gravity — the work done is negative, meaning energy is taken out of the object rather than added. Enter a negative force or distance to reflect that direction.