What is the work done on the block by the worker and weight forces?

AI Thread Summary
The discussion focuses on calculating the forces and work done on a 36 kg block of ice sliding down a frictionless incline. The force exerted by the worker, calculated as approximately 141.26 N, is necessary to maintain constant speed while the block descends. For the work done by the worker's force, it is suggested that it should be negative due to the direction of the force opposing the displacement. The work done by the weight of the block is positive, as it acts in the direction of the block's displacement. Clarifications are provided on calculating the actual distance traveled along the incline, emphasizing that it is not simply the length of the incline.
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A 36 kg block of ice slides down a frictionless incline 1.2 m long and 0.48 m high. A worker pushes up against the ice, parallel to the incline, so that the block slides down at constant speed.
(a) Find the magnitude of the force exerted by the worker.
(b) Find the work done on the block by the workers force.
(c) Find the work done on the block by the weight of the block.

I found the answer to (a) by sin(arcsin(.48/1.2)) * 9.81 * 36 kg which is 141.2629.
I don't know what to do for (b) and (c). My first guess would be that (b) is -141.2629 and (c) is 141.2629. But I am not sure.
 
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Work is equal to the change in kinetic energy. If I push on the wall, am I doing work on the wall?


By the way, a) is correcct, but I don't think it's absolutely necessary to take the sin of the arcsin.
 
Work done BY a Force is F dot displacement .
You know F_by_worker is up-the-ramp, so does neg. W,
but how far does the block travel along that direction?
[ hint: not exactly 1 meter ! ]

(mg acts along the -.48 m Delta_z, so does +'ve W)
 
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