Forest UCM Energy KEnWork

Definition of KE

For a single particle of mass m moving with a velocity v, the kinetic energy is defined as

[math]T \equiv \frac{1}{2} mv^2[/math]

Work Energy Theorem

Derivation

Consider the Kinetic Energy's temporal rate of change assuming that the mass of the particle is constant

[math]\frac{dT}{dt} = \frac{m}{2} \frac{d}{dt}v^2= \frac{m}{2} \frac{d}{dt}\vec v \cdot \vec v[/math]

[math]= \frac{m}{2} \left (\vec \dot v \cdot \vec v + \vec v \cdot \vec \dot v \right )[/math]

[math]= \frac{m}{2} 2 \vec \dot v \cdot \vec v = \vec F \cdot \vec v[/math]

or

[math]dT = \vec F \cdot \vec v dt =\vec F \cdot d\vec r \equiv d W[/math]

or

[math]\Delta T = \Delta W[/math]

The change in a particle's kinetic energy is equivalent to the work done by the net Force used to move the particle

Forest_UCM_Energy#KE_.26_Work