A 200 N force pushes a 50-kg oak table a distance of 2.0 m across an oak floor.Friction resists this motion with a force of 157 N.The work done by the friction is

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The work done by friction can be calculated using:

Work = force × distance × cos(angle)

Since the force of friction acts in the opposite direction to the displacement, the angle between them is 180 degrees and cos(180) = -1. Therefore:

Work = -157 N × 2.0 m × (-1) = 314 J (note the negative sign indicating that the friction force acts in the opposite direction to the applied force)

Therefore, the correct choice is D.

A 200 N Force Pushes a 50-Kg Oak Table a Distance