Why is the Work Zero on a Frictionless Surface?

[Aaryan34532]

Homework Statement

Is the work zero here because its a frictionless surface? If, so why? If not then what's the reason a

nd why?

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution

I was originally thinking 1/2mv^2 .. but KE is zero right, but having it be mgh didn't make sense..

 

[YoungPhysicist]

Homework Statement

Is the work zero here because its a frictionless surface? If, so why? If not then what's the reason aView attachment 234973nd why?

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution

I was originally thinking 1/2mv^2 .. but KE is zero right, but having it be mgh didn't make sense..

Newton’s first law said that without an external force input,an object will either stay still or move at a constant velocity forever.

 

[vela]

I was originally thinking 1/2mv^2

Why?

.. but KE is zero right

Is it?

but having it be mgh didn't make sense..

Why not?

It seems like you don't have a clear understanding of what's being asked since you don't know exactly what work is. What is work? What is kinetic energy? How are they related?

 

[FactChecker]

It might help if you put down some relevant equations. What are the equations for work, velocity, acceleration, and force? These are all related and are relevant to this problem. Try to use equations that show the relationships between them.

 

[YoungPhysicist]

Work isn’t the same concept as “force”.

If you push on a wall as hard as you can but the wall doesn’t move at all,you do zero work.

 

[Aaryan34532]

@Young physicist Okay, so work is the transfer of energy due to force given in the equation W = F x D

Obvciously yes if you apply force on a wall and let's say you're on rollerskates and you move backwards that DOES NOT mean you did work as let's say you applied 5N OF of force on the wall, but the point of application didnt move at all so it would be W = 5N x 0m = 0J so no work is done..

I hope my conceptual understanding is correct here.. As for my original question since it is already moving at a constant speed and not accelerating since it will be continuing to move WITHOUT EXTERNAL FORCES then then obviously force is 0 and thus work is 0.

 

[FactChecker]

I hope my conceptual understanding is correct here.. As for my original question since it is already moving at a constant speed and not accelerating since it will be continuing to move WITHOUT EXTERNAL FORCES then then obviously force is 0 and thus work is 0.

Correct.