Work is defined as the product of force and what?

Work is defined as the product of force and the distance over which that force acts, specifically when the force is applied in the direction of the displacement. This is mathematically represented as Work = Force × Distance. The term "parallel distance" in this context refers to how far the object moves in the direction of the force applied. Therefore, when a force is applied to an object and the object moves parallel to the direction of the force, the work done is maximized.

In contrast, the other options—time, mass, and velocity—do not directly relate to the fundamental definition of work. Time is involved in the evaluation of power but does not contribute to the calculation of work itself. Mass is a property of matter that influences the effect of force according to Newton's second law (F=ma) but is not part of the work equation. Velocity, while it describes how fast an object is moving, is unrelated to the work calculation, unless it is considered in terms of kinetic energy, which is a different concept. This makes the choice of parallel distance the correct one in defining work.