Work Calculator
Work has a strict meaning in physics that is narrower than everyday usage: no movement in the direction of the force, no work done, however tired you get.
Work
3,000
- Work in kilojoules
- 3
- Power in watts
- 300
- Power in horsepower
- 0.4023
Values update as you type. This calculator covers the single scenario its formula assumes — see Common Mistakes for what it leaves out.
The formula this calculator uses
work = force x distance
- W
- Work done, in joules
- F
- Force applied, in newtons
- d
- Distance moved in the direction of the force, in metres
How to check the result by hand
- 1
Identify the force actually moving the object
Use the component of force along the direction of travel. A force at right angles to the motion does no work at all, and a force partly across it only counts its in line part.
- 2
Measure the distance travelled in that direction
The distance is the displacement along the force, in metres. Moving sideways while pushing forwards contributes nothing to the work done by the push.
- 3
Convert to newtons and metres
Kilograms are mass, not force. To turn a mass into a weight, multiply by 9.81. Distances given in centimetres need dividing by a hundred before use.
- 4
Multiply force by distance
Two hundred and fifty newtons over twelve metres is three thousand joules. There is no division and no time term: work does not care how long it took.
- 5
Divide by time if power is wanted
Three thousand joules in ten seconds is three hundred watts. The same work over a minute would be fifty watts, with the joules unchanged.
For worked examples, common mistakes and the limits of this formula, read the full How To Calculate Work page.