What is the definition of work in terms of energy?

Work is defined as the process that occurs when a force is applied to an object and causes it to move a certain distance in the direction of that force. This definition highlights the essential elements of doing work: the presence of a force and the movement of an object as a result of that force.

In more detail, when a force acts on an object, it must overcome any resistance and cause the object to move. The distance moved is critical because work is calculated as the product of the force and the distance moved in the direction of that force. This relationship is summarized in the formula: work (W) = force (F) × distance (d) × cos(θ), where θ is the angle between the force and the direction of motion. When the force and movement are in the same direction, the work done is maximized.

The other choices do not accurately describe the concept of work. For instance, stating that work is done when no force is applied is contradictory since work requires a force to move an object. Describing work as energy stored in an object conflates work with potential energy, while saying work is the ability to do something is a vague definition that does not capture the specific interaction between force and movement.