What must happen for work to be done on an object?

For work to be done on an object, a force must be applied and that force must result in the object moving in the direction of the force. This means that if a force acts on a moving object and causes it to displace in the direction of that force, work is being done. The relationship between force, movement, and work is defined by the equation: work = force x distance x cos(theta), where theta is the angle between the force and the direction of motion.

While the application of force is essential for work to be performed, it is equally crucial that the object moves as a result of that force. If an object remains stationary despite the application of force, then no work is done on the object because there is no displacement. This principle is foundational in understanding how energy transfer takes place in physical systems.