# Work done by stationary floor

When a rod falls on floor in such a way that the rod starts rotating. The work done by floor is zero as floor is not moving. But still, rotational kinetic energy is changing. Is it due to the fact that the only net work done is zero and Transitional negative work and rotational positive work cancel each other?

• What do you mean by translational negative work? – m__ Nov 15 '18 at 17:20
• Having trouble visualizing what's going on with the rod. How does it fall and and in what manner does it rotate? – Bob D Nov 15 '18 at 17:22
• The rod was vertically kept. It slid a little and tilted and started falling . With the floor tilting it more as it falls . – Aramaan meher Nov 15 '18 at 17:41
• The rod interfaces to the floor with friction, there is a net force on the earth equal to the force on the rod. The earth is very large so the force is not noticed. – PhysicsDave Nov 15 '18 at 17:52

• @Aramaan The contact point isn't moving. In the frame of the Earth, no work is done on that point. Rotational work is torque times angular displacement: $$W=\tau\cdot\theta$$ and if you consider the centre of rotation as the contact point, then indeed there is no angular displacement. If you instead consider the point of rotation somewhere else, for example in the centre of mass, then you've chosen another frame and it does indeed look like normal forces cause angular displacement seen from this point. You can do this for mathematical purposes. But in generel normal force still does no work. – Steeven Dec 3 '18 at 16:07