How is work calculated in physics?

In physics, work is calculated using the formula that involves force, distance, and the cosine of the angle between the force and the direction of motion. The correct formula, Work = Force × Distance × cos(θ), indicates that work is done when a force causes an object to move in the direction of that force. The term "cos(θ)" accounts for the angle between the direction of the applied force and the direction of the displacement.

When force is applied at an angle, only the component of the force that acts in the direction of the movement contributes to the work done. For example, if the force is applied directly in line with the movement of the object, θ equals 0 degrees, and cos(0) equals 1, meaning all of the force contributes to the work done. Conversely, if the angle is 90 degrees, cos(90) equals 0, and no work is done because the force does not contribute to the movement in that direction.

This concept allows for accurate calculations in various scenarios, such as lifting an object vertically or pushing it along a horizontal surface, where the directional components of force must be considered.