Difference Between Work and Energy

There is a significant difference between work and energy. Work is the transferring of an amount of energy with the help of a force covering a particular distance in a direction. Energy is also referred to as the force that works at a certain distance. Both of these can be termed scalar units. For work to occur, there must be a force and movement from one place to another.

Difference Between Work and Energy

There are basically several types of energy such as potential, kinetic energy, nuclear energy, solar energy, electrical energy, etc. Kinetic energy is when an object is in motion and potential energy is when the object is at rest. On the other hand, there is only one type of work. Both these quantities are measured in joules.

Work refers to overpowering resistance by the application of force. It is evident that the resistance has been overpowered from the movement of the application of force. Energy is the capability to do work or perform some action and can be thought of as something that is possessed or stored. It exists in several forms like light, heat, electrical, potential energy, or other forms. Work and energy have similar units and are closely related. Energy can be put in storage, but that cannot be done for work.  Work is energy in motion. Energy alters from one form to another by the process of doing work.

Usually, there are two sorts of work Positive and negative work. If the direction of the force is in the same direction as the motion of its spot of application, work done is said to be positive. If the course of the force is in the opposite direction to the motion of its point of application, negative work is said to be done.

Difference Between Work and Energy
Work	Energy
It is described as the action done on the object causing some displacement	It is described as a property of a system or the ability to do work
Work = force x distance	There are various equations depending upon the types of energy
The components of the force are parallel to the displacement	Energy is the result of the work performed
If the applied force is in the same direction as the displacement, then work is positive and if the applied force is in the opposite direction of the displacement then work is negative	There is no direction component in energy.

Work is defined as transferring energy into an object so that there is some displacement.	Energy is defined as the ability to do work.
Work done is always the same.	Energy can be of different types such as kinetic and potential energy.
The mathematical representation of work is W = F.d where F is the force applied and d is the displacement of the object.	The mathematical representation of energy for kinetic energy is KE = 1/2 mv2 and for potential energy is PE = mgh where, m is the mass, v is the velocity, g is the acceleration due to gravity, and h is the height.