Work — the act of exerting a force over a distance — is an essential part of the transfer of energy within a physical system. The SI unit for work is the joule, named after English physicist James Prescott Joule (1818-1889), though non-SI units such as newton-metre, erg and foot-poundal may also be used. Since work is a form of energy, it can be measured in the same units as that of heat.
When an object moves, the movement must have some component of force along the displacement path. The amount of work done depends on the magnitude of the force and the distance over which the force is applied. Forces can be directed in any direction, but to do work on an object they must be acting in a direction at least some of the time. Unless an object is displaced, no work can be done. For example, if a person holds a car against gravity to stop it from sliding down a hill, no work is done because the force is not at a right angle to the displacement. Conversely, if an object is being swung around in a circle by a string at constant speed, the string does not do any work because there is no displacement and the force is applied in the same direction.
In addition to changing the potential energy of a displaced mass, work can also transfer kinetic energy (a measure of an object’s momentum) between itself and other objects. The amount of kinetic energy transferred is equal to the change in linear and angular velocity of the particle, which can be calculated from Newton’s second law: W = –
The principles of work are important to understand in many different contexts, such as when a person lifts a heavy box. In fact, the principle of work is one of the fundamental building blocks of classical physics and modern physics.
While most people think of work as a place where they go to get their jobs done, it has really become much more than that. As technology and globalization continue to transform the way we work, more and more employees are shifting from traditional office environments into fully remote work arrangements.
Working from home eliminates a hundred hassles such as ironing clothes, making breakfast and lunch, packing and commuting, which frees up time for hobbies, long-time interests, side hustles and passion projects. The impact is far-reaching, from boosting productivity to helping companies save on a variety of expenses such as commuting costs, overpriced coffee and wardrobe expenditures and utilities and real estate rip-offs.
As more and more workers shift to a more flexible work arrangement, it’s important for businesses to consider how they can provide the right balance of flexibility and productivity while also protecting employee health and wellness. The good news is that there are plenty of tools available to help ensure success. The key is finding ways to maximize meaning in a workplace that allows employees to be their most productive, engaged and fulfilled selves.
