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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 standard kinetic energy formula is:
Where:
Alternative Methods: When velocity is not directly available, kinetic energy can be calculated using work-energy theorem (KE = work done) or through conservation of energy principles.
Details: Kinetic energy calculations are essential in physics, engineering, and various practical applications including vehicle safety design, sports science, and energy conservation studies.
Tips: Enter mass in kilograms and velocity in meters/second. Both values must be positive numbers (mass > 0, velocity ≥ 0).
Q1: Can kinetic energy be negative?
A: No, kinetic energy is always a non-negative quantity since both mass and velocity squared are always positive or zero.
Q2: What is the SI unit of kinetic energy?
A: The SI unit of kinetic energy is the Joule (J), which equals 1 kg·m²/s².
Q3: How does kinetic energy relate to momentum?
A: Kinetic energy can be expressed in terms of momentum as KE = p²/2m, where p is momentum (p = mv).
Q4: 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.
Q5: What happens to kinetic energy when velocity doubles?
A: Kinetic energy increases by a factor of four when velocity doubles, since KE is proportional to the square of velocity.