Kinetic energy

When the net force acting on an object is zero, the net work done by all the forces acting on the object is zero.  When the net force acting on an object is not zero, then the net work done on the object is Wnet = Fnet·d.  When a net force acts on an object, then the object accelerates, it changes its velocity.

Can we express the work done by the net force in terms of this change in velocity?

Assume an object is moving along a straight line and a constant force Fnet = ma is acting on the object.  Then Wnet = ma·d.  The work is proportional to the acceleration a.  This acceleration causes a change in speed, a = (vf - vi)/∆t.  For translational motion we have

Wnet = md (vf - vi)/∆t.

The distance traveled is the average speed times ∆t,

d = ∆t (vf + vi)/2.

Therefore

Wnet = m(vf - vi)(vf + vi)/2 = ½m(vf2 - vi2).

We can express the net work done on the object in terms of the change in the quantity ½mv2.  We define the (translational) kinetic energy of the object as K = ½mv2.  The net work done on the object is equal to the change in the kinetic energy of the object.

Wnet = Kf - Ki =  ½m(vf2- vi2) = ∆K.

This is called the work-kinetic energy theorem.

Example:

Assume that together with your partner you want to win a soapbox race.  You are allowed to push the cart with your partner in it for a distance of 5 m to give it some initial speed.  You are pushing as hard as you can.  You do work on the cart.  The work you do is the average force you exert times the distance the cart moves in the direction of the force, W = F*(5 m).  You transfer energy to the cart.  The cart gains kinetic energy.

Kinetic energy increases with the square of the speed.  Neglecting friction, an engine does four times as much work to make a car reach a speed of 60 miles/h as to make it reach a speed of 30 miles/h.  When the speed of a car is doubled, its kinetic energy increases by a factor of four.

Problem:

A 3 kg mass has an initial velocity v0 = 6.325 m/s in the positive x-direction.
(a)  What is its kinetic energy at this time?
(b)  Find the total work done on the object if its velocity changes to 8.944 m/s in the positive x-direction. 

Solution:

Problem:

Find the average force needed to bring a 1000 kg car to rest from a speed of 100 km/h in a distance of 130 m.

Solution: