Work / Energy Calculator
Calculate mechanical work or energy from force and distance (W = Fd).
Try an example
500
About this calculator
How This Work/Energy Calculator Works
Enter a force and a distance, and the calculator returns the work done — the energy transferred by that force acting over that distance.
The Formula
W = Fd — work equals force times distance, measured in joules when force is in newtons and distance is in meters. This assumes the force is applied in the same direction as the motion; a force applied at an angle to the motion does less work per the same distance.
Why Work and Energy Share Units
Work and energy are measured in the same unit (joules) because they're the same underlying quantity — work done on an object is exactly the energy transferred to or from it. Pushing a box 5 meters with 20 newtons of force does 100 joules of work, which shows up as 100 joules of kinetic energy if nothing else (like friction) absorbs it along the way.
Worked example
A 50-newton force applied over 10 meters does 500 joules of work — half a kilojoule.
Frequently asked questions
What's the formula for work?
Work equals force times distance (W = Fd), assuming the force is applied in the same direction as the motion.
What's the difference between work and energy?
They're measured in the same units (joules) and are closely related — work is the process of transferring energy, often into kinetic or potential energy.
What if the force isn't in the same direction as the motion?
Only the component of force in the direction of motion does work — a force applied perpendicular to motion does zero work. This calculator assumes they're aligned.
What's a joule in everyday terms?
Lifting a 1 kg object about 10 cm against gravity takes roughly 1 joule of work.