Raising Cement Bags: Work Done Comparison

Which requires more work, lifting a 25-kg bag of cement 10 m vertically, or lifting a 50-kg bag 5 m vertically?

Does the amount of work needed to raise these bags differ?

Answer:

The work done required to raise a 50-kilogram bag 5 meters vertically vs a 25 kg bag of cement is the same.

When comparing the work done to lift a 25-kg bag of cement 10 m vertically versus lifting a 50-kg bag 5 m vertically, the amount of work needed is actually the same. This is because the work done in both scenarios is determined by the product of the mass of the object, the acceleration due to gravity, and the vertical displacement.

The work done in lifting the 25 kg bag by 10 m vertically is calculated as:

Work = Force × Distance = (Mass × Gravity) × Distance = 25 kg × 9.8 m/s^2 × 10 m = 2450 J

Similarly, the work done in lifting the 50 kg bag by 5 m vertically is also 2450 J:

Work = Force × Distance = (Mass × Gravity) × Distance = 50 kg × 9.8 m/s^2 × 5 m = 2450 J

Therefore, even though the bags have different masses and vertical displacements, the work done in both cases is equal. This is because the work done on an object is determined by the force applied and the distance moved in the direction of the force, not the mass of the object.