How much work would it take to push a # 1 kg # weight up a # 5 m # plane that is at an incline of # pi / 3 #?

1 Answer
Dec 27, 2016

The work done is found by

#W = mgxxDeltad cos(pi/6) = 42.4J #

Explanation:

In any situation where a force acts and an object moves, the work done by or against that force is given by

#W = FxxDeltad costheta#

where #theta# is the angle between the directions of #vecF# and #vecDeltad#

Since the force we work against here is the force of gravity and the displacement is upward at an angle of #pi/3# relative to the horizontal , the angle between #F_g# and #Deltad# is #pi/6#

Therefore, the work done is

#W = mgxxDeltad cos(pi/6) = (1)(9.8)(5)(sqrt3/2)=42.4J #