1. What Is Kinetic Energy?

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, following the formula KE = 1/2 m v².

2. How Does The Formula Work?

The kinetic energy formula is:

Where:

• \( KE \) — Kinetic energy (joules)
• \( m \) — Mass of the object (kilograms)
• \( v \) — Velocity of the object (meters per second)

Explanation: The kinetic energy increases with the square of velocity, meaning doubling the speed quadruples the kinetic energy, while doubling the mass only doubles the kinetic energy.

3. Importance Of Kinetic Energy Calculation

Details: Kinetic energy calculations are essential in physics, engineering, and various practical applications including vehicle safety design, sports science, energy conservation analysis, and understanding collision dynamics.

4. Using The Calculator

Tips: Enter mass in kilograms and velocity in meters per second. Both values must be positive numbers. The calculator will compute the kinetic energy in joules.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why is there a 1/2 in the kinetic energy formula?
A: The factor of 1/2 comes from the integration process when deriving the work-energy theorem from Newton's second law of motion.

Q2: What are the units of kinetic energy?
A: In the SI system, kinetic energy is measured in joules (J), where 1 J = 1 kg·m²/s².

Q3: 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.

Q4: How does kinetic energy relate to work?
A: The work done on an object equals its change in kinetic energy, according to the work-energy theorem.

Q5: Can kinetic energy be negative?
A: No, kinetic energy is always positive or zero (when velocity is zero), since both mass and velocity squared are always positive.