when you carry something over a distance, are you considered to be doing work?

Answer 1

Good question.

If you lift something up then you have done
work
W=mgh

When you accelerate (+ or -) an object parallel to the ground you apply force

then
W=Fs


As you move that object with a constant speed (F=0) and sweat profusely you may you are doing 0 work . Yes W=0 since you apply no force along the path and since there is no increase in upward motion W=0 since change in h=0.

Do you feel cheated?

Work in physics is equal to a scalar product of force F applied along the path s. (see ref)

Answer 2

Movement is considered work. Work is defined as "something on which exertion or labor is expended". Here are a few other definitions:

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/work

An easy way to ask questions concerning the physics of work - Is it work to carry something over a distance?

Hope this helps.

Answer 3

Yes.

Since work= force x distance, lifting and supporting something (force) over a distance would be considered work.

Answer 4

Yes.

Your company should have an efficiency rating... Mine is typically about 70%. This means that out of the 2080 hours a year (8 hours a day, 5 days a week, 52 weeks a year), only about 1,450 are truly productive. Vacations, holidays, restroom breaks, water cooler chit chat, carrying something, unauthorized cigarette breaks, sick days, unexpected days off are all considered by me as unproductive.

An easy way to cut your company's costs of goods (services) - which also impresses your boss - is to increase efficiency... Carry more than one item, have a lesser paid employee run the stuff for you, e-mail documents (I print using CutePDF, also cuts paper/printing/maintenance costs).

Realize this is a physics question... oops, answered as a business question... thumbs down for me please (lol).

Answer 5

Yes