Certified Personal Trainer (NSCA) Practice Exam

What is the equation that determines the amount of work done during exercise?

1. Force x distance / time

2. Weight x vertical distance x reps

3. Force x distance

4. A and C

5. B and C

The correct answer is: B and C

The amount of work done during exercise is typically defined as the product of force and distance. This is represented by the equation Force x Distance. This fundamental equation is applicable in various scenarios, such as lifting weights, where the force is determined by the weight being lifted and the distance is the vertical height through which this weight is moved. Option B, which states Weight x vertical distance x reps, effectively aligns with the concept of work, but it's expressed in a context that only considers vertical lifting. The term "weight" here represents the force applied due to gravity on the object being lifted, and varying reps acknowledges the total distance covered through repeated lifts. However, the most direct and straightforward expression of work is the force exerted over a distance, which is simply Force x Distance. Therefore, the correct answer encompasses both the traditional formula for work involving these key elements of exercise physiology. Given this understanding, the combination of answers A (Force x distance / time) and C (Force x distance) does not directly apply to the definition of work in the standard physics context. Instead, D suggests that work can also be conceptualized concerning time and distance but doesn't align with the common definition for exercise contexts as clearly as E encapsulates work as defined in B