# Do I apply any force towards right when I move an object towards right through air (neglecting air friction)?

I am holding an object in my hand fully extended in air. If I move it towards right , will I have to apply any force in the direction of motion (neglecting air friction)?

In my book they say work done is zero because force and displacement are mutually perpendicular. I know in this case I am applying force upward against gravity but at the same time I think a little force is also being applied in the direction of motion (neglecting air friction).

• In addition to what's in the answers, I want to point out the very important point that "a little force is also being applied in the direction of motion" is not correct, due to Newton's first law. Make sure you understand the first law! – garyp Oct 16 '16 at 12:51

Work done by the gravity is zero. And if initial and final velocity is same(in this case zero) then work done by the force applied by you is also zero. Because there is no change in kinetic energy.

Now in order to move the object first you have to accelerate it to give it a velocity. The work done by the force applied by you is positive now. But when you put the object to rest again you have to decelerate it. The work done in this case is negative. Mathematically it can be shown that work done in both process have same magnitude as the change of velocity and thus the change of kinetic energy is zero.

• I am still unable to figure out whether I need to apply some force in the direction of motion or not. If not then how does the object decides to move towards right or left? – rock Oct 16 '16 at 14:13
• Yes, you do apply force in the direction of motion at first to accelerate the object in that direction. – Likhon Oct 16 '16 at 19:41

The author is writing about the book and the work done on the book.

If a book ins moving through the air and if one neglects air resistance no work is done to keep the book moving in the horizontal direction because there are no forces in that direction.

The author has put that statement a different way by in effect stating that the only force on the book is gravity and that vertical force has no component in the horizontal direction and so does no work moving the book horizontally.

• I wonder if I am applying no force towards right, how does the book come to move towards right not left? – rock Oct 16 '16 at 11:53
• Because at some before that the book did get accelerated in the horizontal direction cf projectile motion. – Farcher Oct 16 '16 at 16:23

In my book they say work done is zero because force and displacement are mutually perpendicular.

Trust me, it doesn't say that.

When you're moving the object to the left or right (along the $x$-axis), you need to apply a net force that is parallel to the displacement vector. Work is then done acc.:

$$W=\int_0^xFdx$$

But as you're not moving the object along the $y$-axis, the force to hold it steady in the vertical sense does not perform any work because that force is perpendicular to the $x$ displacement.

Edit:

I am still unable to figure out whether I need to apply some force in the direction of motion or not. If not then how does the object decides to move towards right or left?

This is explained by Newton's laws of motion.

First law: an object either remains at rest or continues to move at a constant velocity, unless acted upon by a net force.

Initially you're holding the object still, both in the vertical sense ($y$) and horizontal sense ($x$).

In the vertical sense, gravity $F=mg$ acts on it but you counteract that with an equal but opposite force, hence there is no net force acting on it in the $y$ direction.

In the $x$ direction there's no motion either so by Newton this means that the net force in the $x$-direction is also zero. Now to make the object move in the $x$-direction you have to apply a net force to it (in the direction of desired motion), your arm has to 'pull' or 'push' on it.

To illustrate this we use a free body diagram:

Left: the object is motionless and $F_1$ is the force you provide to counbteract gravity.

Right: $F_2$ is the 'pulling' or 'pushing' force, depending on its direction the object will move left or right.

Newton's second law basically quantifies all this and allows to calculate the actual accelerations.

• You say work is being done along x-axis. I have mentioned there is no friction at all. please clarify if there is no opposing force do i still have to apply force to move it? – rock Oct 16 '16 at 11:59
• The quote you highlight looks ok to me. I think it's the application of that quote that is problematic. – garyp Oct 16 '16 at 12:49
• I am still unable to figure out whether I need to apply some force in the direction of motion or not. If not then how does the object decides to move towards right or left? – rock Oct 16 '16 at 14:11
• I'll make an edit. – Gert Oct 16 '16 at 14:57
• Edit made, so what you think. – Gert Oct 16 '16 at 15:26