Part of JME-03 — Work, Energy & Power

Work-Energy Theorem

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Cue Column:

  • What does WET state?
  • Which work?
  • When to use?

Notes:

Statement: The NET work done by ALL forces on a body equals the change in its kinetic energy.

WnetW_{net} = W1W_1 + W2W_2 + ... + WnW_n = \frac{1}{2}$$mv_f^2 - \frac{1}{2}$$mv_i^2 = deltaKEdelta_{KE}

Key Points:

  1. WnetW_{net} includes work by ALL forces (gravity, friction, normal, tension, applied, spring)
  2. It is a SCALAR equation — no direction complications
  3. Works for variable forces, curved paths, any situation
  4. Equivalent to Newton's Second Law but often simpler

When to Use:

  • When you need to relate speeds at two points
  • When forces vary with position
  • When you don't care about the path details

Summary: WET converts a vector problem (forces, directions) into a scalar problem (energies). Extremely powerful.

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