Show that the kinetic energy of a two-particle system is given by
½ mv²cₘ + ½ μv²,
where m = m₁ + m₂, v is the relative speed (the speed of one of the particles with respect to the other), and μ is the reduced mass, given by 1/μ = 1/m₁ + 1/m₂.

Q&A Education