A student lifts a backpack weighing 60 N to a shelf 2 meters high. Then the student lifts another backpack weighing 40 N to a shelf 3 meters high. Which action required more work?

Question

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1 point
Lifting the 60 N backpack to 2 meters
Lifting the 40 N backpack to 3 meters
Both actions required the same amount of work
Work cannot be calculated without knowing time

Answer 1

To determine which action required more work, we can use the formula for work done against gravity, which is:

\[ \text{Work} = \text{Force} \times \text{Distance} \]

1. For the 60 N backpack lifted to a height of 2 meters: \[ \text{Work}_{60} = 60 , \text{N} \times 2 , \text{m} = 120 , \text{J} \]

2. For the 40 N backpack lifted to a height of 3 meters: \[ \text{Work}_{40} = 40 , \text{N} \times 3 , \text{m} = 120 , \text{J} \]

Both actions required the same amount of work, which is 120 Joules.

Thus, the correct answer is: Both actions required the same amount of work.