- #1
grandpa2390
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Homework Statement
This is a real basic question I am sure. Maybe I just missed something.
so in the book, t = the kinetic energy . only for a pendulum, they add kinetic energy of x dot squared, plus kinetic energy of y dot squared.
Homework Equations
T = 1/2 m v^2
a^2 + b^2 = c^2
The Attempt at a Solution
This doesn't make sense. At first I thought maybe they were splitting velocity into x and y components.
but T(velocity) is not equal to T(x component of velocity) + T(y component of velocity). if I am traveling in a straight line at 5 m/s, 1/2m(5)^2 is not equal to 1/2m(3)^2 + 1/2m(4)^2. what is the xdot and ydot a measure of