Energy vs. Work — What's the Difference?
By Fiza Rafique & Urooj Arif — Updated on May 14, 2024
Energy is the capacity to do work, measured in joules, reflecting potential and kinetic forms; work is the transfer of energy through force applied over distance.
Difference Between Energy and Work
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Energy encompasses various forms like kinetic, potential, thermal, among others, indicating a system's capability to perform work, while work is a specific occurrence where energy is transferred or converted from one form to another through physical movement.
In physics, energy can exist without visible action, stored or inherent within systems as potential energy, whereas work represents the actual application of energy resulting in motion, often seen in the displacement of objects.
Energy is a scalar quantity with several forms, each describing different physical phenomena (e.g., chemical, nuclear), on the other hand, work is also a scalar quantity but specifically describes the process of energy transfer through displacement.
Conservation laws apply differently; energy is always conserved in a closed system, manifesting in various forms without loss, whereas work is the mechanism by which energy is merely transferred or transformed from one body to another or from one form to another.
Measurement of energy often involves different contexts and units depending on its form (e.g., calories for heat, joules for mechanical energy), while work is always measured in joules, emphasizing its specific role in energy transfer during force application over distance.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Capacity to do work or cause physical change
Energy transfer through force and distance
Forms
Kinetic, potential, thermal, chemical, etc.
Not applicable (specific instance of energy transfer)
Measurement Units
Joules, calories, kWh, etc.
Joules
Conservation
Always conserved in closed systems
Not conserved; can be transferred or transformed
Dependency
Independent of path or motion
Dependent on the path between two points
Compare with Definitions
Energy
Stored or active power inherent in physical systems.
Batteries store electrical energy.
Work
The product of force applied and the distance over which it is applied.
Lifting a weight from the ground involves work.
Energy
A measure of the ability to cause changes in matter.
Solar energy causes changes in weather patterns.
Work
Occurs when there is displacement along the direction of the force.
Pulling a sled across snow involves work.
Energy
The capacity to perform work.
A raised weight possesses gravitational potential energy.
Work
Physical or mental effort or activity directed toward the production or accomplishment of something
Cleaning the basement was a lot of work.
Energy
Derived from various sources like the sun, wind, and fossil fuels.
Wind turbines convert wind energy into electrical energy.
Work
Such effort or activity by which one makes a living; employment
Looking for work.
Energy
In physics, energy is the quantitative property that must be transferred to a body or physical system to perform work on the body, or to heat it. Energy is a conserved quantity; the law of conservation of energy states that energy can be converted in form, but not created or destroyed.
Work
A trade, profession, or other means of livelihood
His work is fixing cars.
Energy
The capacity for work or vigorous activity
Who has the energy to climb that trail?.
Work
The part of a day devoted to an occupation or undertaking
Met her after work.
Energy
Also energies Exertion of vigor or power
A project requiring a great deal of time and energy.
Devoted her energies to writing songs.
Work
One's place of employment
Should I call you at home or at work?.
Energy
Vitality and intensity of expression
A speech delivered with energy and emotion.
Work
Something that one is doing, making, or performing, especially as an occupation or undertaking; a duty or task
Begin the day's work.
Energy
(Informal) A nonphysical force or quality perceived as inhering in a particular place, person, or situation
Was turned off by the group's negative energy.
Work
An amount of such activity either done or required
A week's work.
Energy
Usable heat or power
Each year Americans consume a high percentage of the world's energy.
Work
The action or effect of an agency
The antibiotic seems to be doing its work.
Energy
A source of usable power, such as petroleum or coal.
Work
Something that has been produced or accomplished through the effort, activity, or agency of a person or thing
This scheme was the work of a criminal mastermind. Erosion is the work of wind, water, and time.
Energy
The capacity of a physical system to do work.
Work
An act; a deed
"I have seen all the works that are done under the sun.
And, behold, all is vanity" (Ecclesiastes 1:14).
Energy
A form, amount, or level of this capacity
"a searing beam of 30 trillion protons, with energies up to 50 million electronvolts" (Science News).
Work
An artistic creation, such as a painting, sculpture, or literary or musical composition, or a creative result of other human activity
An early work of Matisse.
A scholarly work of great importance.
Energy
The impetus behind all motion and all activity.
Work
Works The output of a writer, artist, or composer considered or collected as a whole
The works of Bach.
Energy
The capacity to do work.
Work
Works Engineering structures, such as bridges or dams.
Energy
(physics) A quantity that denotes the ability to do work and is measured in a unit dimensioned in mass × distance²/time² (ML²/T²) or the equivalent.
Work
A fortified structure, such as a trench or fortress.
Energy
An intangible, modifiable force (often characterized as either 'positive' or 'negative') believed in some New Age religions to emanate from a person, place or thing and which is (or can be) preserved and transferred in human interactions; shared mood or group habit; a vibe, a feeling, an impression. aura.}}
Work
Needlework, weaving, lacemaking, or a similar textile art.
Energy
The external actions and influences resulting from an entity’s internal nature (ousia) and by which it is made manifest, as opposed to that internal nature itself; the aspect of an entity that can affect the wider world and be apprehended by other beings.
Work
A piece of such textile art.
Energy
A measure of how many actions a player or unit can take; in the fantasy genre often called magic points or mana.
Action points
Work
A material or piece of material being processed in a machine during manufacture
Work to be turned in the lathe.
Energy
Internal or inherent power; capacity of acting, operating, or producing an effect, whether exerted or not; as, men possessing energies may suffer them to lie inactive.
The great energies of nature are known to us only by their effects.
Work
Works (used with a sing. or pl. verb) A factory, plant, or similar building or complex of buildings where a specific type of business or industry is carried on. Often used in combination
A steelworks.
Energy
Power efficiently and forcibly exerted; vigorous or effectual operation; as, the energy of a magistrate.
Work
Works Internal mechanism
The works of a watch.
Energy
Strength of expression; force of utterance; power to impress the mind and arouse the feelings; life; spirit; - said of speech, language, words, style; as, a style full of energy.
Work
The manner, style, or quality of working or treatment; workmanship.
Energy
Capacity for performing work.
Work
Abbr. w(Physics) The transfer of energy from one physical system to another, especially the application of a force to move a body in a certain direction. It is calculated as the product of the force and the distance over which it is applied and is expressed in joules, ergs, and foot-pounds.
Energy
(physics) the capacity of a physical system to do work; the units of energy are joules or ergs;
Energy can take a wide variety of forms
Work
Works Moral or righteous acts or deeds
Salvation by faith rather than works.
Energy
An exertion of force;
He plays tennis with great energy
Work
(Informal) The full range of possibilities; everything. Used with the
Ordered a pizza with the works.
Energy
Enterprising or ambitious drive;
Europeans often laugh at American energy
Work
(Slang) A thorough beating or other severe treatment. Used with the
Took him outside and gave him the works.
Energy
An imaginative lively style (especially style of writing);
His writing conveys great energy
Work
Of, relating to, designed for, or engaged in work.
Energy
A healthy capacity for vigorous activity;
Jogging works off my excess energy
He seemed full of vim and vigor
Work
To exert oneself physically or mentally in order to do, make, or accomplish something.
Energy
The federal department responsible for maintaining a national energy policy of the United States; created in 1977
Work
To be employed; have a job.
Energy
The total of all usable and convertible forces within a system.
Chemical energy in food converts to kinetic energy in humans.
Work
To function; operate
How does this latch work?.
Work
To function or operate in the desired or required way
The telephone hasn't worked since the thunderstorm.
Work
To have a given effect or outcome
Our friendship works best when we speak our minds.
Work
To have the desired effect or outcome; prove successful
This recipe seems to work.
Work
To exert an influence. Used with on or upon
Worked on her to join the group.
Work
To arrive at a specified condition through gradual or repeated movement
The stitches worked loose.
Work
To proceed or progress slowly and laboriously
Worked through the underbrush.
Worked through my problems in therapy.
Work
To move in an agitated manner, as with emotion
Her mouth worked with fear.
Work
To behave in a specified way when handled or processed
Not all metals work easily.
Work
To ferment.
Work
To strain in heavy seas so that the joints give slightly and the fastenings become slack. Used of a boat or ship.
Work
To sail against the wind.
Work
To undergo small motions that result in friction and wear
The gears work against each other.
Work
To cause or effect; bring about
Working miracles.
Work
To cause to operate or function; actuate, use, or manage
Worked the controls.
Can work a lathe.
Work
To shape or forge
"Each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor" (Edgar Allan Poe).
Work
To make or decorate by needlework
Work a sampler.
Work
To solve (a problem) by calculation and reasoning.
Work
To knead, stir, or otherwise manipulate in preparation
Work the dough before shaping it.
Work
To bring to a specified condition by gradual or repeated effort or work
Finally worked the window open.
Worked the slaves to death.
Work
To make, achieve, or pay for by work or effort
Worked her way to the top.
Worked his passage on the ship.
Work
(Informal) To arrange or contrive. Often used with it
Worked it so that her weekends are free.
Work
To make productive; cultivate
Work a farm.
Work
To cause to work
Works his laborers hard.
Work
To excite or provoke
Worked the mob into a frenzy.
Work
To gratify, cajole, or enchant artfully, especially for the purpose of influencing
The politician worked the crowd. The comedian worked the room with flawless rhythm.
Work
To use or manipulate to one's own advantage; exploit
Learned how to work the system.
Worked his relatives for sympathy.
Work
To carry on an operation or function in or through
The agent who works that area.
Working the phones for donations.
Work
To ferment (liquor, for example).
Work
Employment.
Work
Labour, occupation, job.
My work involves a lot of travel.
Work
The place where one is employed.
He hasn’t come home yet; he’s still at work.
Work
(by extension) One's employer.
I want to go to the reunion concert, but I'm not sure if my work will give me the time off.
Work
(dated) A factory; a works.
Work
Effort.
Work
Effort expended on a particular task.
Holding a brick over your head is hard work. It takes a lot of work to write a dictionary.
Work
Sustained human effort to overcome obstacles and achieve a result.
We know what we must do. Let's go to work.
We don't have much time. Let's get to work piling up those sandbags.
Work
Something on which effort is expended.
There's lots of work waiting for me at the office.
Work
(physics) A measure of energy expended in moving an object; most commonly, force times distance. No work is done if the object does not move.
Work is done against friction to drag a bag along the ground.
Work
A measure of energy that is usefully extracted from a process.
Work
(heading) Product; the result of effort.
Work
The result of a particular manner of production.
There's a lot of guesswork involved.
Work
Something produced using the specified material or tool.
We've got some paperwork to do before we can get started. The piece was decorated with intricate filigree work.
Work
(countable) A literary, artistic, or intellectual production.
It is a work of art.
The poetic works of Alexander Pope
Work
(countable) A fortification.
William the Conqueror fortified many castles, throwing up new ramparts, bastions and all manner of works.
Work
The staging of events to appear as real.
Work
(mining) Ore before it is dressed.
Work
The equipment needed to inject a drug (syringes, needles, swabs etc.)
Tell me you're using clean works at least.
Work
(intransitive) To do a specific task by employing physical or mental powers.
He’s working in a bar.
Work
Followed by in (or at, etc.) Said of one's workplace (building), or one's department, or one's trade (sphere of business).
I work in a national park
She works in the human resources department
He mostly works in logging, but sometimes works in carpentry
Work
Followed by as. Said of one's job title
I work as a cleaner.
Work
Followed by for. Said of a company or individual who employs.
She works for Microsoft
He works for the president
Work
Followed by with. General use, said of either fellow employees or instruments or clients.
I work closely with my Canadian counterparts
You work with computers
She works with the homeless people from the suburbs
Work
(intransitive) To effect by gradual degrees;
To work into the earth
Work
(transitive) To effect by gradual degrees.
He worked his way through the crowd
The dye worked its way through
Using some tweezers, she worked the bee sting out of her hand
Work
(transitive) To embroider with thread.
Work
(transitive) To set into action.
He worked the levers.
Work
(transitive) To cause to ferment.
Work
(intransitive) To ferment.
Work
(transitive) To exhaust, by working.
The mine was worked until the last scrap of ore had been extracted.
Work
(transitive) To shape, form, or improve a material.
He used pliers to work the wire into shape.
Work
(transitive) To operate in a certain place, area, or speciality.
She works the night clubs
The salesman works the Midwest
Work
(transitive) To operate in or through; as, to work the phones.
Work
(transitive) To provoke or excite; to influence.
The rock musician worked the crowd of young girls into a frenzy.
Work
(transitive) To use or manipulate to one’s advantage.
She knows how to work the system.
Work
To cause to happen or to occur as a consequence.
I cannot work a miracle.
Work
(transitive) To cause to work.
He is working his servants hard.
Work
(intransitive) To function correctly; to act as intended; to achieve the goal designed for.
He pointed at the car and asked, "Does it work"?;
He looked at the bottle of pain pills, wondering if they would work;
My plan didn’t work
Work
To influence.
They worked on her to join the group.
Work
(intransitive) To move in an agitated manner.
His fingers worked with tension.
A ship works in a heavy sea.
Work
(intransitive) To behave in a certain way when handled
This dough does not work easily;
The soft metal works well
Work
To cause (someone) to feel (something); to do unto somebody (something, whether good or bad).
Work
To hurt; to ache.
Work
To pull off; to wear, perform, etc. successfully or to advantage.
I would never have thought those pieces would go together, but she is working it like nobody's business.
Work
Exertion of strength or faculties; physical or intellectual effort directed to an end; industrial activity; toil; employment; sometimes, specifically, physical labor.
Man hath his daily work of body or mindAppointed.
Work
The matter on which one is at work; that upon which one spends labor; material for working upon; subject of exertion; the thing occupying one; business; duty; as, to take up one's work; to drop one's work.
Come on, Nerissa; I have work in handThat you yet know not of.
In every work that he began . . . he did it with all his heart, and prospered.
Work
That which is produced as the result of labor; anything accomplished by exertion or toil; product; performance; fabric; manufacture; in a more general sense, act, deed, service, effect, result, achievement, feat.
To leave no rubs or blotches in the work.
The work some praise,And some the architect.
Fancy . . . Wild work produces oft, and most in dreams.
The composition or dissolution of mixed bodies . . . is the chief work of elements.
Work
Specifically: (a) That which is produced by mental labor; a composition; a book; as, a work, or the works, of Addison. (b) Flowers, figures, or the like, wrought with the needle; embroidery.
I am glad I have found this napkin; . . . I'll have the work ta'en out,And give 't Iago.
Work
Structures in civil, military, or naval engineering, as docks, bridges, embankments, trenches, fortifications, and the like; also, the structures and grounds of a manufacturing establishment; as, iron works; locomotive works; gas works.
Work
Manner of working; management; treatment; as, unskillful work spoiled the effect.
Work
The causing of motion against a resisting force. The amount of work is proportioned to, and is measured by, the product of the force into the amount of motion along the direction of the force. See Conservation of energy, under Conservation, Unit of work, under Unit, also Foot pound, Horse power, Poundal, and Erg.
Energy is the capacity of doing work . . . Work is the transference of energy from one system to another.
Work
Ore before it is dressed.
Work
Performance of moral duties; righteous conduct.
He shall reward every man according to his works.
Faith, if it hath not works, is dead.
Work
Break; twist.
Work
The causing of motion against a resisting force, measured by the product of the force into the component of the motion resolved along the direction of the force.
Energy is the capacity of doing work. . . . Work is the transference of energy from one system to another.
Work
Ore before it is dressed.
Work
To exert one's self for a purpose; to put forth effort for the attainment of an object; to labor; to be engaged in the performance of a task, a duty, or the like.
O thou good Kent, how shall I live and work,To match thy goodness?
Go therefore now, and work; for there shall no straw be given you.
Whether we work or play, or sleep or wake,Our life doth pass.
Work
Hence, in a general sense, to operate; to act; to perform; as, a machine works well.
We bend to that the working of the heart.
Work
Hence, figuratively, to be effective; to have effect or influence; to conduce.
We know that all things work together for good to them that love God.
This so wrought upon the child, that afterwards he desired to be taught.
She marveled how she could ever have been wrought upon to marry him.
Work
To carry on business; to be engaged or employed customarily; to perform the part of a laborer; to labor; to toil.
They that work in fine flax . . . shall be confounded.
Work
To be in a state of severe exertion, or as if in such a state; to be tossed or agitated; to move heavily; to strain; to labor; as, a ship works in a heavy sea.
Confused with working sands and rolling waves.
Work
To make one's way slowly and with difficulty; to move or penetrate laboriously; to proceed with effort; - with a following preposition, as down, out, into, up, through, and the like; as, scheme works out by degrees; to work into the earth.
Till body up to spirit work, in boundsProportioned to each kind.
Work
To ferment, as a liquid.
The working of beer when the barm is put in.
Work
To act or operate on the stomach and bowels, as a cathartic.
Purges . . . work best, that is, cause the blood so to do, . . . in warm weather or in a warm room.
Work
To labor or operate upon; to give exertion and effort to; to prepare for use, or to utilize, by labor.
He could have told them of two or three gold mines, and a silver mine, and given the reason why they forbare to work them at that time.
Work
To produce or form by labor; to bring forth by exertion or toil; to accomplish; to originate; to effect; as, to work wood or iron into a form desired, or into a utensil; to work cotton or wool into cloth.
Each herb he knew, that works or good or ill.
Work
To produce by slow degrees, or as if laboriously; to bring gradually into any state by action or motion.
So the pure, limpid stream, when foul with stainsOf rushing torrents and descending rains,Works itself clear, and as it runs, refines,Till by degrees the floating mirror shines.
Work
To influence by acting upon; to prevail upon; to manage; to lead.
Work
To form with a needle and thread or yarn; especially, to embroider; as, to work muslin.
Work
To set in motion or action; to direct the action of; to keep at work; to govern; to manage; as, to work a machine.
Knowledge in building and working ships.
Now, Marcus, thy virtue's the proof;Put forth thy utmost strength, work every nerve.
The mariners all 'gan work the ropes,Where they were wont to do.
Work
To cause to ferment, as liquor.
Tears of joy for your returning spilt,Work out and expiate our former guilt.
The sun, that rolls his chariot o'er their heads,Works up more fire and color in their cheeks.
Work
Activity directed toward making or doing something;
She checked several points needing further work
Work
A product produced or accomplished through the effort or activity or agency of a person or thing;
It is not regarded as one of his more memorable works
The symphony was hailed as an ingenious work
He was indebted to the pioneering work of John Dewey
The work of an active imagination
Erosion is the work of wind or water over time
Work
The occupation for which you are paid;
He is looking for employment
A lot of people are out of work
Work
Applying the mind to learning and understanding a subject (especially by reading);
Mastering a second language requires a lot of work
No schools offer graduate study in interior design
Work
The total output of a writer or artist (or a substantial part of it);
He studied the entire Wagnerian oeuvre
Picasso's work can be divided into periods
Work
A place where work is done;
He arrived at work early today
Work
(physics) a manifestation of energy; the transfer of energy from one physical system to another expressed as the product of a force and the distance through which it moves a body in the direction of that force;
Work equals force times distance
Work
Exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity;
I will work hard to improve my grades
She worked hard for better living conditions for the poor
Work
Be employed;
Is your husband working again?
My wife never worked
Do you want to work after the age of 60?
She never did any work because she inherited a lot of money
She works as a waitress to put herself through college
Work
Have an effect or outcome; often the one desired or expected;
The voting process doesn't work as well as people thought
How does your idea work in practice?
This method doesn't work
The breaks of my new car act quickly
The medicine works only if you take it with a lot of water
Work
Perform as expected when applied;
The washing machine won't go unless it's plugged in
Does this old car still run well?
This old radio doesn't work anymore
Work
Shape, form, or improve a material;
Work stone into tools
Process iron
Work the metal
Work
Give a work-out to;
Some parents exercise their infants
My personal trainer works me hard
Work one's muscles
Work
Proceed along a path;
Work one's way through the crowd
Make one's way into the forest
Work
Operate in a certain place, area, or specialty;
She works the night clubs
The salesman works the Midwest
This artist works mostly in acrylics
Work
Proceed towards a goal or along a path or through an activity;
Work your way through every problem or task
She was working on her second martini when the guests arrived
Start from the bottom and work towards the top
Work
Move in an agitated manner;
His fingers worked with tension
Work
Cause to happen or to occur as a consequence;
I cannot work a miracle
Wreak havoc
Bring comments
Play a joke
The rain brought relief to the drought-stricken area
Work
Cause to work;
He is working his servants hard
Work
Prepare for crops;
Work the soil
Cultivate the land
Work
Behave in a certain way when handled;
This dough does not work easily
The soft metal works well
Work
Have and exert influence or effect;
The artist's work influenced the young painter
She worked on her friends to support the political candidate
Work
Operate in or through;
Work the phones
Work
Cause to operate or function;
This pilot works the controls
Can you work an electric drill?
Work
Provoke or excite;
The rock musician worked the crowd of young girls into a frenzy
Work
Gratify and charm, usually in order to influence;
The political candidate worked the crowds
Work
Make something, usually for a specific function;
She molded the riceballs carefully
Form cylinders from the dough
Shape a figure
Work the metal into a sword
Work
Move into or onto;
Work the raisins into the dough
The student worked a few jokes into his presentation
Work the body onto the flatbed truck
Work
Make uniform;
Knead dough
Work the clay until it is soft
Work
Use or manipulate to one's advantage;
He exploit the new taxation system
She knows how to work the system
He works his parents for sympathy
Work
Find the solution to (a problem or question) or understand the meaning of;
Did you solve the problem?
Work out your problems with the boss
This unpleasant situation isn't going to work itself out
Did you get it?
Did you get my meaning?
He could not work the math problem
Work
Cause to undergo fermentation;
We ferment the grapes for a very long time to achieve high alcohol content
The vintner worked the wine in big oak vats
Work
Go sour or spoil;
The milk has soured
The wine worked
The cream has turned--we have to throw it out
Work
Arrive at a certain condition through repeated motion;
The stitches of the hem worked loose after she wore the skirt many times
Work
The transfer of energy when a force moves an object.
Pushing a car up a hill does work against gravity.
Work
Expressed in joules in the SI system.
It takes about 500 joules to lift a box up a flight of stairs.
Work
Requires both force and motion.
Compressing a spring requires work and stores energy.
Common Curiosities
Can work be negative?
Yes, if the force and the displacement are in opposite directions, work is considered negative.
What is energy?
Energy is the capacity to perform work or cause physical changes.
What are different forms of energy?
Some common forms include kinetic, potential, thermal, and chemical energy.
Can work change the energy of a system?
Yes, work can either increase or decrease the energy of a system.
How are energy and work related?
Work is a measure of the energy transferred by a force over a distance.
How do we measure work?
Work is measured in joules, calculated as the product of force and distance.
What is an example of work done with no displacement?
If there is no displacement, no work is done, even if a force is applied (e.g., pushing against a wall).
Can work be zero?
Yes, work is zero if no displacement occurs or if the force is perpendicular to the displacement.
What is kinetic energy?
Kinetic energy is the energy an object possesses due to its motion.
What is work?
Work is the process of energy transfer that occurs when a force causes an object to move.
Is energy always conserved?
In a closed system, energy is conserved but can be transformed from one form to another.
What is thermal energy?
Thermal energy is the internal energy present in a system due to its temperature.
How does energy transfer in terms of work?
Energy transfers through work when a force moves an object over a distance.
What is potential energy?
Potential energy is energy stored by an object due to its position or state.
What unit is energy measured in?
Energy is typically measured in joules but can also be expressed in calories or kWh.
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Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
