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Kinetic Energy Equation:
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Kinetic energy is the energy possessed by an object due to its motion. It is a scalar quantity that depends on both the mass and velocity of the object.
The kinetic energy equation is expressed as:
Where:
Explanation: The equation shows that kinetic energy is proportional to the mass of the object and proportional to the square of its velocity. This means that doubling the velocity quadruples the kinetic energy.
Details: Calculating kinetic energy is essential in physics and engineering for understanding energy conservation, collision dynamics, and designing safety systems. It helps determine the energy that moving objects can transfer in impacts.
Tips: Enter mass in kilograms and velocity in meters per second. Both values must be positive numbers (mass > 0, velocity ≥ 0).
Q1: What are the units of kinetic energy?
A: The SI unit for kinetic energy is Joules (J), where 1 J = 1 kg·m²/s².
Q2: Does kinetic energy depend on direction?
A: No, kinetic energy is a scalar quantity and does not depend on the direction of motion, only on the magnitude of velocity.
Q3: What happens to kinetic energy when velocity doubles?
A: When velocity doubles, kinetic energy increases by a factor of four, since kinetic energy is proportional to the square of velocity.
Q4: Can kinetic energy be negative?
A: No, kinetic energy cannot be negative since both mass and the square of velocity are always positive or zero.
Q5: How is kinetic energy related to work?
A: The work-energy theorem states that the net work done on an object equals its change in kinetic energy.