Question #5a7d9
1 Answer
Nov 10, 2017
The kinetic energy of a body can be reduced by allowing a force to do work on the body. To reduce the kinetic energy, the force must be opposite to the direction of velocity vector. There are two possibilities here:
[1] Applied force is a conservative force: If the force employed to do the work is a conservative force (Ex: Gravitational Force), then the kinetic energy reduced is stored in the system itself as a potential energy which can be recovered anytime again.
[2] Applied force is a dissipative force: If the force employed to do the work is a non-conservative force (Ex: Friction), then the kinetic energy reduced is actually dissipated away as heat. It is lost permanently and cannot be recovered.
