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 increases with the square of the velocity, meaning doubling the speed quadruples the kinetic energy.
Details: Kinetic energy calculations are essential in physics, engineering, automotive safety, sports science, and many other fields to understand energy transfer and impact forces.
Tips: Enter mass in kilograms and velocity in meters per second. All values must be positive numbers. The calculator provides both the final result and a detailed step-by-step solution.
Q1: What are the SI units for kinetic energy?
A: The SI unit for kinetic energy is the Joule (J), where 1 J = 1 kg·m²/s².
Q2: How does mass affect kinetic energy?
A: Kinetic energy is directly proportional to mass - doubling the mass doubles the kinetic energy (if velocity remains constant).
Q3: Why is velocity squared in the formula?
A: Velocity is squared because the work needed to accelerate an object increases with the square of the final velocity.
Q4: Can kinetic energy be negative?
A: No, kinetic energy is always positive or zero (when velocity is zero) since both mass and the square of velocity are always non-negative.
Q5: What's the difference between kinetic and potential energy?
A: Kinetic energy is energy of motion, while potential energy is stored energy due to position or configuration.