What does the area under a force vs. position curve represent?

[sisika]

Homework Statement

A small box is moved from position x1 to x2 by a net force which varies with position. On a graph, I plot the net force on the box vs. its position. The area in between the force curve and the x-axis is ...... And I am not sure if it is the work done on the box or may be something else

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution

 

[Hootenanny]

Homework Statement

A small box is moved from position x1 to x2 by a net force which varies with position. On a graph, I plot the net force on the box vs. its position. The area in between the force curve and the x-axis is ...... And I am not sure if it is the work done on the box or may be something else

The area enclosed by the curve and x-axis is indeed the net work done by the force. The formal definition of work;
$$\int^{x_1}_{x_0}f(x) dx$$