how much work (in J) does the driver do?

Question

A motorist runs out of gas on a level road 220 m from a gas station. The driver pushes the 1,220 kg car to the gas station. If a 160 N force is required to keep the car moving, how much work (in J) does the driver do?

Answer 1

Work is defined as the product of a force times distance moved in the direction of the force. In the problem the force is specified as 160 N and moves the car a distance of 220 m. So

Work = 160 N x 220 m = 35200 J.

The 1220 kg mass of the car is not needed in this case.