Which requires more work: lifting a 50-kg sack vertically 2 m or lifting a 25-kg sack vertically 4 m?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Work done is defined as the force applied multiplied by the distance over which it is applied. In both cases, the force required would be the same (assuming the same acceleration due to gravity). Therefore, the work done would depend only on the vertical distance over which the sack is lifted. It can be observed that in the first case, the 50-kg sack is lifted only half the distance as compared to the second case, where the 25-kg sack is lifted. Hence, both cases require the same amount of work.

Which Requires More Work: Lifting a 50-Kg Sack Vertically 2