AP Physics 1: Algebra-Based Flashcards: Work
Written by AP Content Team, Verified for 2026 AP Exams, Last updated: May 2026
Review key ideas with interactive flashcards. This set includes 19 cards to help you master important concepts.
Can work be done on a system without changing its kinetic energy?
Yes. For example, lifting an object at a constant velocity involves positive work by the lifting force and negative work by gravity, resulting in zero net work and no change in kinetic energy.
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Can work be done on a system without changing its kinetic energy?
Yes. For example, lifting an object at a constant velocity involves positive work by the lifting force and negative work by gravity, resulting in zero net work and no change in kinetic energy.
How is the concept of path-independence central to understanding conservative forces?
Path-independence means the work done by a conservative force is stored as potential energy, which can be fully recovered, as it only depends on the start and end points.
What type of energy is exclusively associated with conservative forces?
Potential energies are associated only with conservative forces.
What does it mean for the work done on a system to be negative?
Negative work signifies that energy is being transferred out of the system, often resulting in a decrease in kinetic energy.
How can you determine the amount of work done from a force-displacement graph?
Work is equal to the area under the curve of a graph of the parallel force component ($F_{||}$) as a function of displacement.
Is work a scalar or a vector quantity?
Work is a scalar quantity, which means it can be positive, negative, or zero, but it does not have a direction.
If the net work done on an object is positive, what happens to its kinetic energy?
According to the work-energy theorem, if the net work is positive, the object's kinetic energy must increase.
How is the work done by a constant force calculated?
The work done by a constant force is related to the components of that force and the displacement of the point where the force is exerted.
A force is applied to an object, but the object does not move. How much work is done by the force?
Zero work is done. Work requires a force to be exerted over a distance, so if there is no displacement, there is no work.
What is a defining characteristic of the work done by a conservative force?
The work done by a conservative force is path-independent; it only depends on the initial and final configurations of the system.
State the work-energy theorem.
The work-energy theorem states that the change in an object's kinetic energy is equal to the sum of the work (net work) being done by all forces exerted on the object.
A satellite orbits Earth in a perfect circle at a constant speed. How much work is done by Earth's gravitational force on the satellite during one orbit?
Zero work is done. The gravitational force is always perpendicular to the satellite's displacement, and the net work is zero as the kinetic energy is constant.
What is 'net work'?
Net work is the sum of the work being done by all individual forces exerted on an object.
What is work in the context of energy transfer?
Work is the amount of energy transferred into or out of a system by a force exerted on that system over a distance.
What does it mean for the work done on a system to be positive?
Positive work signifies that energy is being transferred into the system, often resulting in an increase in kinetic energy.
What two factors determine the work done by a conservative force?
The work done by a conservative force is determined only by the initial and final configurations of the system, not the path taken between them.
Provide a general description of what it means for work to be done on a system.
Work is done on an object or system when a force or collection of forces acts on it, causing an energy transfer over a distance.
If an object's speed decreases, what can you conclude about the net work done on it?
If an object's speed and thus its kinetic energy decrease, the net work done on the object must be negative.
If the net work done on an object is zero, what is the change in its kinetic energy?
If the net work done is zero, the change in the object's kinetic energy is also zero, meaning its speed remains constant.