Work & Energy Simulator
Pull a block at an angle across a rough floor and compare work by the pull, friction and net work.
Drag the orange arrow handle to choose the pull force and its angle, then press Push and compare the work done.
About the Work & Energy Simulator
Free work & energy simulator. Pull a block at an angle across a rough floor and compare work by the pull, friction and net work. Drag, change the sliders and see the result live. No sign-up, works on phone and computer. Built for physics, the work & energy simulator runs instantly in your browser: change a setting or drag an object and the result updates at once, so you learn by trying things out rather than only reading about them.
Pull a block at an angle across a rough floor and compare work by the pull, friction and net work. Use it to explore physics ideas at your own pace, then check what you found against the key ideas further down this page.
How to use the Work & Energy Simulator
- Use the controls to change Pull force, Pull angle, Floor friction (μ), Block mass. The simulation reacts instantly.
- Press "Push (10 m)", "Reset" to start, reset or change what is happening.
- Where you see a glowing handle, object, weight or atom, drag it with your mouse or finger. Everything responds in real time.
- Watch the readouts and graphs update as you experiment, and compare what you see with the key ideas below.
Things to try
- Set the angle to 0° and compare with 45°.
- Set friction to 0 and see all the work become kinetic energy.
- Find the smallest force that starts the block moving.
Key ideas you can learn
- Work = F × d × cos θ.
- Friction does negative work and removes energy.
- Net work equals the change in kinetic energy (work-energy theorem).
- Pulling at an angle lifts the block a little, which lowers friction.
Where this is used in the real world
Engineers use work and energy to size motors, brakes, cranes and conveyor belts.
Who is this simulation for?
Physics students in middle school, high school and first-year university, teachers who want a quick demonstration for the projector, and anyone revising for exams. It works well for flipped classrooms because students can explore before the lesson.
For teachers: project it on the board, let students predict what will happen, then run it together. For students: change one thing at a time and write down what changes.
Frequently asked questions
What is the work-energy theorem?
The net work done on an object equals its change in kinetic energy.
Why does the angle matter?
Only the part of the force along the motion does work, F cos θ.
Is the Work & Energy Simulator free to use?
Yes. It is completely free, with no signup, no download and no ads inside the simulation. It runs in your web browser.
Does the Work & Energy Simulator work on a phone or tablet?
Yes. It uses touch as well as the mouse, so you can drag objects with your finger. A larger screen makes the controls easier to see.