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Work is defined in physics as the process of energy being transferred to or from an object via the application of force along a displacement. Specifically, in the context of kinetic energy, work represents the change in kinetic energy of an object.
According to the work-energy theorem, the work done on an object is equal to the change in its kinetic energy. This means that if a net force is applied to an object, it will cause an acceleration that changes the object's velocity, and as a result, its kinetic energy will change. Therefore, if positive work is done on an object, its kinetic energy increases; conversely, if negative work is done, its kinetic energy decreases.
This relationship highlights the fundamental concept that work and kinetic energy are directly linked, making the accurate choice the one that states work represents the change in kinetic energy.