What Does Negative Work Mean - Web positive work is done against gravity on the upward parts of a closed path, but an equal amount of negative work is done against gravity on the downward parts. Web positive work is done against gravity on the upward parts of a closed path, but an equal amount of negative work is done against gravity on the downward parts. In other words, work done against gravity, lifting an object up , is “given back” when the object comes back down. In other words, work done against gravity, lifting an object up , is “given back” when the object comes back down. This opposition is what causes the negative sign in the work. Web in the context of classical mechanics as you describe, negative work is performed by a force on an object roughly whenever the motion of the object is in the opposite direction as the force.
This opposition is what causes the negative sign in the work. In other words, work done against gravity, lifting an object up , is “given back” when the object comes back down. Web positive work is done against gravity on the upward parts of a closed path, but an equal amount of negative work is done against gravity on the downward parts. Web positive work is done against gravity on the upward parts of a closed path, but an equal amount of negative work is done against gravity on the downward parts. In other words, work done against gravity, lifting an object up , is “given back” when the object comes back down. Web in the context of classical mechanics as you describe, negative work is performed by a force on an object roughly whenever the motion of the object is in the opposite direction as the force.