What happens to the kinetic energy of a system when it does work?

When a system does work, the kinetic energy is transformed into another form of energy. In the context of energy transfer, work is defined as the process of energy moving from one system to another or changing forms within the same system. When work is done by the system, it often results in a conversion of kinetic energy to forms such as mechanical energy, thermal energy, or potential energy.

For instance, when a moving object does work against friction, its kinetic energy decreases, but that energy doesn’t disappear; instead, it is transformed into thermal energy, which is experienced as heat. This understanding aligns with the law of conservation of energy, which states that energy cannot be created or destroyed but can only change forms. Thus, the kinetic energy involved in doing work is effectively transferred to another form of energy in the process.