Kinetic Energy Formula:
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Kinetic energy is the energy possessed by an object due to its motion. It is defined as the work needed to accelerate a body of a given mass from rest to its stated velocity.
The calculator uses the kinetic energy formula:
Where:
Explanation: The kinetic energy of an object increases with the square of its velocity, meaning that doubling the velocity quadruples the kinetic energy.
Details: Calculating kinetic energy is essential in physics, engineering, and various applications including vehicle safety design, sports science, and energy conservation studies.
Tips: Enter mass in kilograms and velocity in meters per second. Both values must be positive numbers.
Q1: What are the units of kinetic energy?
A: The SI unit for kinetic energy is the Joule (J), which is equivalent to kg·m²/s².
Q2: Does kinetic energy depend on direction?
A: No, kinetic energy is a scalar quantity and depends only on the magnitude of velocity, not its direction.
Q3: What is the relationship between kinetic energy and work?
A: The work-energy theorem states that the net work done on an object equals its change in kinetic energy.
Q4: Can kinetic energy be negative?
A: No, kinetic energy is always non-negative since both mass and the square of velocity are always positive or zero.
Q5: How does kinetic energy relate to potential energy?
A: In closed systems, kinetic energy can be converted to potential energy and vice versa, while the total mechanical energy remains constant (conservation of energy).