Work & Power Calculator
Find work, power, force, distance or time with W = F·d·cos θ and P = W ÷ t.
About the Work & Power Calculator
Choose what to find, then enter the force, the distance moved, the angle between the force and the motion, and the time or power. The calculator gives the answer plus the work in joules and kilocalories and the power in watts and horsepower.
Work is done when a force moves something: work = force × distance × cos θ, so pushing at right angles to the motion does no work. Power is the rate of doing work: 1 watt = 1 joule per second, and one mechanical horsepower is 745.7 W.
The formula
W = F d cos θ; P = W ÷ t
Worked example
Pushing with 500 N for 3 m in the direction of motion, taking 6 s
- Work: 500 × 3 × cos 0° = 1,500 J
- Power: 1,500 ÷ 6 = 250 W
- About a third of a horsepower
Questions people ask
Is lifting a box at constant speed work?
Yes: work against gravity = weight × height.
Work vs energy?
Work is energy transferred; both are measured in joules.
Why does holding a heavy box tire me without doing work?
Physics work needs movement; your muscles still burn energy to hold the load.