Work
Activity involving mental or physical effort done in order to achieve a purpose or result; in physics, the energy transferred to or from an object by means of a force acting on the object through a displacement.
In thermodynamics, 'work' (W) is a form of energy transfer that is not due to a temperature difference. It involves organized motion against an opposing force, like a gas expanding and pushing a piston. It's distinct from heat.
Word relationships
- Labor: Often implies physical exertion; 'work' can be mental or physical.
- Effort: The exertion of physical or mental power; 'work' is the result of that effort (in physics, the energy transferred).
- Task: A piece of work to be done; 'work' is the activity or energy itself.
- Rest: Cessation of work or activity.
- Leisure: Free time not taken up with work.
Commonly confused with
- Heat: Work is energy transfer due to force and displacement; heat is energy transfer due to temperature difference.
Word family
- worker (noun): a person who works
- working (adjective): engaged in work
- workable (adjective): able to be worked or operated
Collocations
- do work
- mechanical work
- electrical work
- work-life balance
- go to work
Idioms & expressions
- all in a day's work
- make short work of
- work out
Example sentences
- "When a gas expands against an external pressure, it does work on its surroundings." In a physics context.
- "She put in many hours of hard work to finish the report before the deadline." In a general context.
Memory hook
WORK is the energy you use to make things WORK. Force x Distance
When not to use
As a general term for 'effort' when the specific scientific definition of force and displacement is not intended. For example, 'I put a lot of work into that project' is colloquial, not thermodynamic.
Fun facts
- The unit for work in the International System of Units (SI) is the joule (J), the same as for energy and heat.
- In thermodynamics, work done by the system is often considered negative, while work done on the system is positive, depending on the convention.
Related words
Explore more words
Energy, exertion, Thermodynamics, workload, propulsion, endeavor
Also appears in
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