Why does work equals kinetic energy of friction?

In summary, the work done by friction is equal to the loss of kinetic energy of the baseball player as energy cannot be created or destroyed. This is determined by using the work-energy theorem, where the change in kinetic energy of the batter is equal to the work done by friction.
  • #1
zzoo4
42
0
Why does work equals kinetic energy of friction??

Homework Statement


After hitting a long fly ball that goes over the right fielder’s
head and lands in the outfield, the batter decides to keep going
past second base and try for third base. The 62.0-kg player begins sliding 3.40 m from the base with a speed of 4.35 m/s. If
the player comes to rest at third base, (a) how much work was
done on the player by friction?




Homework Equations


w=fd
ke=.5mv^2


The Attempt at a Solution



I already know how to do this but

KE= .5X6.2x4.35^2 = -587J

But Why do we use Kinetic energy equation to find the work of friction?
 
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  • #2


Energy can't be created or destroyed. Friction basically produces heat energy. In order to get this heat energy we need to take it from somewhere else, like kinetic energy.

Energy is the ability to do work so in your problem the work done by friction is equal to the loss of kinetic energy of the baseball player.
 
  • #3


zzoo4 said:

Homework Equations


w=fd
ke=.5mv^2


The Attempt at a Solution



I already know how to do this but

KE= .5X6.2x4.35^2 = -587J
How did you get a negative answer when multiplying a bunch of positive numbers?
But Why do we use Kinetic energy equation to find the work of friction?
The work-energy theorem says [itex]\Delta KE=W[/itex]. What's ΔKE for the batter?
 
  • #4


Tyyyy
 
  • #5


I would explain that the work of friction is equal to the kinetic energy because friction is a force that acts in the opposite direction of motion. When the player is sliding towards third base, friction is acting against their motion, causing them to slow down and eventually come to a stop. This means that the force of friction is doing negative work on the player, taking away their kinetic energy and converting it into other forms of energy, such as heat. The amount of work done by friction is equal to the change in the player's kinetic energy, as given by the equation KE = 0.5mv^2. Therefore, we can use this equation to calculate the work of friction in this situation.
 

FAQ: Why does work equals kinetic energy of friction?

Why is work equal to kinetic energy of friction?

The relationship between work and kinetic energy of friction is based on the concept of energy conservation. When an object moves against a surface with friction, the force of friction does negative work on the object, converting its kinetic energy into thermal energy. This means that the work done by the frictional force is equal to the decrease in kinetic energy of the object, resulting in the work being equal to the kinetic energy of friction.

How does friction affect work and kinetic energy?

Friction is a force that opposes the motion of an object. When an object is in motion, the force of friction acts in the opposite direction of the object's motion, which means it does negative work on the object. This negative work results in a decrease in the object's kinetic energy, as it is converted into thermal energy. Essentially, friction decreases the work done on an object and its resulting kinetic energy.

Is the work done by friction always equal to the kinetic energy of friction?

In most cases, the work done by friction is equal to the kinetic energy of friction. However, this is dependent on the situation and factors such as the coefficient of friction, the distance the object travels, and the initial and final velocities of the object. In some cases, the work done by friction may be slightly greater or less than the kinetic energy of friction.

How does the coefficient of friction affect the work and kinetic energy of an object?

The coefficient of friction is a measure of the amount of friction between two surfaces. The higher the coefficient of friction, the greater the force of friction and the more work it will do on an object. This means that a higher coefficient of friction will result in a greater decrease in the object's kinetic energy, resulting in a higher kinetic energy of friction.

Can work and kinetic energy of friction ever be positive?

In most cases, the work done by friction is negative, meaning that it decreases the kinetic energy of an object. However, there are some situations where the work done by friction can be positive. For example, when an object is sliding up a ramp, the force of friction is acting in the same direction as the motion of the object, resulting in positive work and an increase in the object's kinetic energy. In general, though, work and kinetic energy of friction are typically negative.

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