Question

ANSWER GETS MEDAL!
How does the direction of the applied force affect work?

Answer 1

Tis the answer because Work = integral [force DOT dx]
This means ONLY the force in line or parallel to the movement is counted as work
Suppose the angle between the force and motion is 90 degrees? No work is done. Suppose the angle is 0 degrees? All the force does work on the object. The "dot product" means only the component of force in line with motion contributes to work. That component is F*x*cos(theta) where theta is the angle between the force and the motion.

Answer 2

Thanks :)