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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 represents the work needed to accelerate an object from rest to its current velocity and is a fundamental concept in physics and engineering.
The calculator uses the kinetic energy formula:
Where:
Explanation: The formula shows that kinetic energy increases with the square of velocity, meaning doubling the velocity quadruples the kinetic energy.
Details: Kinetic energy calculations are essential in various fields including automotive safety, sports science, mechanical engineering, and physics research. Understanding kinetic energy helps in designing safer vehicles, analyzing collisions, and optimizing mechanical systems.
Tips: Enter mass in kilograms and velocity in meters per second. All values must be valid (mass > 0, velocity ≥ 0). The result will be displayed in Joules (J).
Q1: What are the units for kinetic energy?
A: The standard unit for kinetic energy is Joules (J) in the SI system. 1 Joule equals 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, assuming velocity remains constant.
Q3: Why is velocity squared in the formula?
A: Velocity is squared because kinetic energy depends on both the object's speed and the work required to achieve that speed from rest.
Q4: Can kinetic energy be negative?
A: No, kinetic energy is always positive or zero. It's zero when the object is at rest and increases with motion.
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 (like gravitational or elastic potential energy).