When Does the Kinetic Work Energy Theorem Not Apply?

In summary: That negative work cancels out your positive work, so the total work done on the object is zero. But the object has gained potential energy, so something must have done work on it.In summary, the Work-Energy Theorem only applies to rigid bodies that are not deformed. There is a way to represent work as a change in energy, but it is a specialized case and not a general form of the equation. Work is defined as a force acting on an object over a distance, but there are other ways to represent it. The Work-Energy Theorem is actually a consequence of Newton's 2nd law and in cases where there is a change in potential energy but no change in velocity, the net work must be
  • #1
uestions
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When does the Kinetic Work Energy Theorem not apply to a situation? Or better, is there a general form of the equation where work can equal the change in any energy? What is work besides a force and a distance?
 
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  • #2
uestions said:
When does the Kinetic Work Energy Theorem not apply to a situation?

The Work-Energy Theorem only applies to rigid bodies. That is, if the work is not used to deform the object.

uestions said:
is there a general form of the equation where work can equal the change in any energy?

There's a thread here that discusses this in detail;
http://physics.stackexchange.com/questions/58134/how-to-understand-the-work-energy-theorem

uestions said:
What is work besides a force and a distance?

Work by definition, is what a force does on an object by displacing it. However, there are other ways of representing work if that's what you're asking.
 
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  • #3
TysonM8 said:
The Work-Energy Theorem only applies to rigid bodies. That is, if the work is not used to deform the object.
Here's something that I wrote in another thread that may clarify how the "work"-energy theorem, when thought of as an application of Newton's 2nd law, may be applied to deformable bodies.
Doc Al said:
The so-called 'work'-Energy theorem is really an application of Newton's 2nd law, not a statement about work in general. Only in the special case of a point mass (or rigid body) is that "work" term really a work (in the conservation of energy sense).

If you take a net force acting on an object (like friction) and multiply it by the displacement of the object's center of mass, you get a quantity that looks like a work term but is better called pseudowork (or "center of mass" work)--what it determines is not the real work done on the object, but the change in the KE of the center of mass of the object. This is usually called the "Work-Energy" theorem:
[tex]F_{net}\Delta x_{cm}=\Delta (\frac{1}{2}m v_{cm}^2)[/tex]
Despite the name, this is really a consequence of Newton's 2nd law, not a statement of energy conservation.
 
  • #4
How can work be done to an object that has a change in potential energy, but no change in velocity?
 
  • #5
uestions said:
How can work be done to an object that has a change in potential energy, but no change in velocity?
If the velocity doesn't change, the work-kinetic energy theorem just says that the net work must be zero. You do work when you lift an object at constant speed, but gravity is also doing negative work.
 
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What is the Kinetic Work Energy Theorem?

The Kinetic Work Energy Theorem states that the net work done on an object is equal to the change in its kinetic energy. In other words, the work done on an object is equal to the amount of energy it gains or loses in motion.

What is the equation for the Kinetic Work Energy Theorem?

The equation for the Kinetic Work Energy Theorem is W = ΔKE = KEf - KEi, where W represents the work done on the object, ΔKE is the change in kinetic energy, and KEf and KEi represent the final and initial kinetic energies, respectively.

How does the Kinetic Work Energy Theorem relate to the Law of Conservation of Energy?

The Kinetic Work Energy Theorem is a specific application of the Law of Conservation of Energy, which states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transferred from one form to another. In this case, the work done on an object is equal to the change in its kinetic energy, which is a form of energy.

What are some real-life examples of the Kinetic Work Energy Theorem?

The Kinetic Work Energy Theorem can be seen in many everyday situations, such as a car accelerating on a road, a ball rolling down a hill, or a person swinging on a playground swing. In all of these examples, work is done on the object, resulting in a change in its kinetic energy.

How is the Kinetic Work Energy Theorem used in engineering and technology?

The Kinetic Work Energy Theorem is an important concept in engineering and technology, as it allows for the calculation and prediction of the amount of work needed to move an object at a certain speed or distance. It is also used in the design and analysis of machines and structures, such as roller coasters and bridges, to ensure that they can withstand the forces and work involved in their operation.

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