Question

Distinguish between positive work and negative work

Answer 1

Positive work is said to be done when the force acting on a body produces a displacement in the direction of the force.

Negative work is said to be done when the force acting on a body produces a displacement opposite to the direction of the force.

Answer 2

Positive work

When force and displacement are in the same direction, the work performed on an object is said to be positive work.

Example: When a body moves on the horizontal surface, force and displacement act in the forward path. The work is done in this case known as Positive work.

Negative work

Negative work is performed if the displacement is opposite to the direction of the Force applied.

Example: Work was done the gravity on a rocket going perpendicular upwards.