VanCleave's Science Fun

Your Guide to Science Projects, Fun Experiments, and Science Research

  • Home
  • ASK JANICE
  • Teacher Guide
  • Homeschool Science For Kids
Home » How Doing Work Transfers Energy

How Doing Work Transfers Energy

By Janice VanCleave

A Stationary WagonThe wagon in the photo is not moving, thus it has no kinetic energy (energy of moving things). If you pull the wagon across the room, you cause the wagon to move a certain distance.

In other words, you do WORK on the wagon.

Work = Force x distance

When you pull (apply a force) on the wagon, the wagon changes from being stationary to being in motion. In other words, the kinetic energy of the wagon and contents increases.

Where did this kinetic energy come from?

It came from you–the person that exerts a force on the wagon. You used chemical energy from the food you ate to move the wagon. In other words, when you did work on the wagon, you transferred energy from your body (chemical energy) to the wagon causing it to move.

When you did work on the wagon, the chemical energy in your body decreased and the wagon’s kinetic energy increased.

Science Challenge: Energy transfers are continually occurring in and around you. How many examples can you give?

Start with Energy from the Sun—

Share this:

  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Click to print (Opens in new window) Print

Filed Under: Physics Tagged With: Energy, work

Topic Search

Visitors From All Over the World


Welcome to Janice’s Science Extravaganza!

The spoon hanging from the string vibrates when struck and these vibrations are transmitted through the string and the sound is amplified by the plastic cups. ABOUT ME: Hi, I am Janice VanCleave, author of 50 best-selling science experiment books for children ages 4 through high school. I taught science for 27 years. MORE.....

Copyright © 2025 · Janice Van Cleave · JVC's Science Fair Projects · Log in