In mechanics, which statement correctly defines how work relates to force and distance?

• A. Force equals work divided by distance
• B. Work equals force times distance
• C. Power equals distance divided by time
• D. Work equals distance times velocity

Answer: (B)

Work is the transfer of energy that occurs when a force moves an object through a distance in the direction of the force. When the force is constant and aligned with the motion, the work done is simply the product of the force and the distance moved: W = F × d. If the force isn’t perfectly aligned with the movement, you use only the component of the force along the displacement, giving W = F cos θ × d. This makes the stated relation the best description for the basic case, since it directly links the cause (force) and the effect (distance moved) to the energy transferred. The other options mix up the quantities or refer to different ideas: rearranging would not define work, distance over time describes speed, and distance times velocity has the wrong units for energy.