Question

How much work would it take to push a `6 kg` weight up a `12 m` plane that is at an incline of `pi / 4`?

Answer 1

51 Joules

Explanation:

Here,
Hypotenuse (h) = 12m
Angle of inclination (`theta`)= π/4
Perpendicular (p) = ?

We have, `Sin theta = p/h`
or, `Sin (π/4) = p/12`
or, `p = 12/sqrt(2)`
Hence, p = 8.5 m, which is the distance travelled.

Since work(W) is given by
W = F * S,
Where F = Force ( here weight) = 6 kg wt = 6 N
(Note kg wt, unlike kg, is same as Newton and is a unit of weight, not mass).
S is the distance traveled given by the perpendicular 8.5m
Therefore,
`W = 6 * 8.5 = 51 "Joules"`