Calculate Work Done on 2.6m Ramp w/ 220N Force

[esmeralda4]

Homework Statement

If someone is pushing an object up a ramp 2.6m long and 1.1m at the far end how do I calculate total work done?

I know the force needed to push the object is 220N.

Homework Equations

Work Done = Force x Distance

The Attempt at a Solution

Do I do 2.6 x 220 and add this to 1.1 x 220?

Therefore getting 814J?

Thanks

 

[jtbell]

In what direction is the person pushing? Horizontally? Or parallel to the surface of the ramp, i.e. upwards at some angle? Or in some other direction?

Do you know how to calculate work when the force is not in the same direction as the motion?

 

[esmeralda4]

The person is pushing the object up the ramp at an unknown angle.

Presumably I would use Work Done = Force x Distance but do I just use the length of the ramp or do I need to take the height into consideration?

Thanks for the reply

 

[ehild]

Homework Statement

If someone is pushing an object up a ramp 2.6m long and 1.1m at the far end how do I calculate total work done?

I know the force needed to push the object is 220N.

The force needed to push the object is 220 N. That is the minimal force which makes the object moving up the ramp. So it is also directed along the slope.
ehild

 

[HalfLostAndSearching]

I would first clarify the given information. Is the force being applied parallel to the ramp or perpendicular to it? This will affect the calculation of work done. Assuming the force is parallel to the ramp, the calculation would be Work = 220N x 2.6m = 572J. This is because the distance being covered is along the ramp, so the perpendicular distance does not need to be considered. If the force is perpendicular to the ramp, then the calculation would be Work = 220N x 2.6m x cosθ, where θ is the angle between the force and the ramp. The value of cosθ would depend on the specific geometry of the ramp. It is also important to note that work is a scalar quantity and does not have a direction, unlike force. Therefore, the direction of the force does not affect the calculation of work done.