Work Done in Physics: Understanding the Concept of Work

Which lifting required the most work?

A 5lb weight is lifted 5ft. A 10lb weight is lifted 2.5ft. In both cases, which lifting required the most work?

Answer:

In both cases, the work done is the same regardless of the weight of the object because the work done is calculated by multiplying the force applied (weight) by the distance over which it's applied. Both examples yield 25 foot-pounds.

The question asked is touching on the concept of work in Physics. In Physics, work is defined as the force applied to an object multiplied by the distance over which it's applied. We can apply this principle to your two scenarios:

For a 5lb weight lifted 5ft: Work = Force x Distance = (5lb x 5ft) = 25 foot-pounds

For a 10lb weight lifted 2.5ft: Work = Force x Distance = (10lb x 2.5ft) = 25 foot-pounds

Therefore, in both cases, the work done is the exact same, 25 foot-pounds.