The term for the work done by a force acting over a distance is referred to as mechanical work. This is mathematically defined as the product of the applied force and the distance over which it acts, in the direction of the force. The formula for mechanical work is given as Work = Force × Distance × cos(θ), where θ is the angle between the force and the direction of motion. Understanding mechanical work is vital in fields such as physics and engineering, as it helps analyze energy transfer and efficiency in mechanical systems.