Which term means a result of a force moving an object a certain distance?

• A. Work
• B. Power
• C. Inertia
• D. Tension

Answer: (A)

The concept here is that work is the transfer of energy that occurs when a force moves an object through a distance. The amount of work you do is the component of the force in the direction of the movement times the distance the object moves, mathematically W = F d cos theta. If the force points the same way as the motion, you do positive work; if it points opposite, you do negative work; if the force is perpendicular to the motion, no work is done. This is why pushing a box across a floor transfers energy to the box, increasing its energy. Lifting, stretching, or moving an object through a distance all involve work.

Power is the rate at which work is done, inertia is the resistance to changes in motion, and tension is the pulling force transmitted through a rope or string. So the term that matches “a result of a force moving an object a certain distance” is work.