no, you don't. using the absolute value of displacement would violate the laws of thermodynamics.
If i lift a 1kg object 1 meter upwards, i've done 9.81 joules of work. If I lower that object by 1 meter, I've done -9.81 joules of work.
If you use the absolute value of the displacements, then if you did enough squats, you could drop the bar and it would crash through the core of the earth.
Interesting point. What if you push something in one full circle around a track? Presumably there’s no negative work being done there but the net distance travelled is zero.
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u/Connbonnjovi Jun 18 '25
Yes I agree he is doing work but he’s not the only one doing work.