What term describes the exertion of force overcoming resistance or producing molecular change?

The term that describes the exertion of force overcoming resistance or producing molecular change is "Work." In physics, work is defined as the process of energy transfer that occurs when an object is moved over a distance by an external force. This definition captures the essential components of work: there must be a force applied, a movement in the direction of that force, and resistance or an opposing force must be overcome.

When work is done, it involves transferring energy from one system to another — for example, when work is performed against gravitational or frictional forces, or when it results in a change at the molecular level, such as in chemical reactions. The formula for calculating work is given by the equation ( W = F \cdot d \cdot \cos(\theta) ), where ( W ) is work, ( F ) is the force applied, ( d ) is the distance moved, and ( \theta ) is the angle between the force and the direction of motion.

In contrast, other terms such as energy refers to the capacity to do work; power is the rate at which work is done; and force is simply the interaction that causes an object to change its state of motion. Thus, the focus on exert