Which scenario describes when work is performed?

Work is defined in physics as the transfer of energy that occurs when a force is applied to an object and the object moves in the direction of that force. In the scenario where a car accelerates down a road, the car is experiencing a change in position because a force is being applied (the engine's power) that causes it to move forward. This movement under the influence of a force is what constitutes work being done.

In the other scenarios, no movement is taking place. For instance, a book sitting on a table or a ball resting on the ground involves no displacement of the objects, despite the gravitational force acting on them. Similarly, when a person holds a bag of groceries without moving, there is also no movement in the direction of the force applied by the person, even though they are exerting effort. Only the car accelerating involves movement in response to an applied force, which makes it the correct answer.