Galilean Relativity and the Work-Kinetic Energy Theorem

Abstract

As the topic of relativity is developed in a first-year physics class, there seems to be a tendency to move as quickly as possible to the fascinating ideas set forth in Einstein's special theory of relativity.1 In this paper we linger a little with the Galilean side of relativity and discuss an intriguing problem and its solution to illustrate a sometimes omitted issue in relativity. Using only ideas from Galilean relativity, we will consider the covariance of the relationship between work and kinetic energy as we move from one inertial reference frame to another.