How Can Work Be Negative?

How Can Work Be Negative?

Foundational Physics Short Answer: Work can be negative when a force acts partly or entirely opposite an object’s displacement. The force then transfers energy out of the object through that interaction. Sliding friction, for example, usually does negative work on a...
Why Is Work Zero When Force Is Perpendicular to Motion?

Why Is Work Zero When Force Is Perpendicular to Motion?

Foundational Physics Short Answer: Work is zero when a force is perpendicular to an object’s displacement because none of that force points along the direction the object moves. The force can still change the object’s direction, but by itself it does not add or remove...