An oceanographer uses an automated winch to tow a seismic sensor sled along a horizontal track on the seabed.
Before the tow begins, with the cable completely slack and under no tension, the electronic tension sensor on the winch has a zero error and reads +1.2 N+1.2\text{ N}+1.2 N.
While towing the sled at a constant speed, the tension reading on the sensor is recorded as 42.6 N42.6\text{ N}42.6 N. The winch pulls the sled a distance of 18.5 m18.5\text{ m}18.5 m along the seabed.
Calculate the actual work done by the winch to move the sled, taking into account the zero error of the tension sensor.
Use the equation:
work done=force×distance \text{work done} = \text{force} \times \text{distance} work done=force×distance26 exam-style questions on AQA GCSE Physics 1.2 Conservation and dissipation of energy, covering 1.2.1 Energy transfers in a system and 1.2.2 Efficiency. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.