Work Force x Displacement: What Counts?

[hasankamal007]

Work=force x displacement.

This displacement is the whole displacement that the force causes or just the displacement through which the force acts?

For eg. If we throw a ball, for calculating work should we consider whole displ or the displ through which I'm applying force.

Thanks a lot. Any kind of suggestion is welcome.

 

[Doc Al]

Work=force x displacement.

This displacement is the whole displacement that the force causes or just the displacement through which the force acts?

Just the displacement through which the force acts. When the force stops acting, it goes to zero.

For eg. If we throw a ball, for calculating work should we consider whole displ or the displ through which I'm applying force.

If you are calculating the work done by your hand, then you'd use the displacement while that force is acting.

 

[Lsos]

If it was the displacement that a force causes, then a spacecraft would be constantly increasing in energy, potentially forever.