Kinetic Energy Increase and Resultant Force Angle – Rankers Physics
Topic: Work Energy and Power
Subtopic: Work Done by Constant and Variable Forces

Kinetic Energy Increase and Resultant Force Angle


Assertion (A): The kinetic energy of a particle continuously increases with time if the resultant force on the particle must be at an angle less than \(90^{\circ}\) to the velocity at all instants.
Reason (R): The work done by the external forces on a system equals to change in total energy.
 
(1) Both (A) & (R) are true and the (R) is the correct explanation of the (A)
(2) Both (A) & (R) are true but the (R) is not the correct explanation of the (A)
(3) (A) is true but (R) is false
(4) Both (A) and (R) are false

Solution:

Assertion (A) is true.


Kinetic energy \(K\) increases if the net work done \(W_{\text{net}}\) is positive. Since \(W_{\text{net}} = \int \vec{F} \cdot d\vec{s}\) and \(d\vec{s}\) is in the direction of \(vec{v}\) , \(W_{\text{net}} > 0\) implies \(vec{F} \cdot \vec{v} > 0\). This means the angle between \(vec{F}\) and \(vec{v}\) must be less than \(90^{circ}\).


Reason (R) is also true, interpreting "total energy" as kinetic energy in the context of \(W_{\text{net}} = \Delta K\) for a particle or total mechanical energy for a system with external work. Reason (R) provides the fundamental principle behind Assertion (A). Therefore, both are true and R explains A.

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