Kinetic Energy Formula:
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Definition: This equation calculates the kinetic energy of an object based on its mass and velocity.
Purpose: It helps physicists, engineers, and students determine the energy possessed by moving objects.
The equation is:
Where:
Explanation: The kinetic energy increases with the square of the velocity, meaning doubling the speed quadruples the energy.
Details: Understanding kinetic energy is crucial for designing vehicles, safety systems, and analyzing motion in physics.
Tips: Enter the mass in kilograms and speed in meters per second. All values must be > 0.
Q1: Why is there a 1/2 in the equation?
A: The factor comes from the integration of Newton's second law of motion when deriving the kinetic energy equation.
Q2: What units should I use?
A: For consistent results, use kg for mass and m/s for velocity to get energy in Joules.
Q3: Does this work for relativistic speeds?
A: No, this classical formula is only accurate for speeds much less than the speed of light.
Q4: How does mass affect kinetic energy?
A: Kinetic energy is directly proportional to mass - double the mass means double the energy at the same speed.
Q5: What's a typical kinetic energy for everyday objects?
A: A 1kg object moving at 1m/s has 0.5J of energy, while a 1000kg car at 30m/s (108km/h) has 450,000J.