Work Done When Force is Perpendicular to Motion (90°)
When a force of any magnitude is applied perpendicular (90°) to displacement, zero work is done.
How to use this tool
- Enter force, distance and angle between f and d in the fields above.
- Results update instantly as you type — or click Calculate.
- Read your work done and the full breakdown beneath it.
See why a centripetal force or a normal force does no work when applied perpendicular to motion.
Frequently asked questions
- What if the force is applied at an angle?
- Only the component along the direction of motion does work. A force at 60° contributes cos(60°) = 0.5 of its magnitude.
- How is work related to energy?
- The work-energy theorem states that net work done on an object equals its change in kinetic energy: W_net = ΔKE.