Kinetic Energy
Definition
Kinetic energy is the energy an object possesses due to its motion. It depends on both the mass and velocity of the object.
Analogy
Imagine a soccer ball rolling down a hill at high speed. The kinetic energy of the ball is like the excitement and momentum it gains as it rolls faster and faster.
Related terms
Potential Energy: The stored energy an object has due to its position or condition.
Mechanical Energy: The sum of an object's kinetic and potential energies.
Work: The transfer of energy that occurs when a force is applied to move an object.
"Kinetic Energy" appears in:
Subjects (6)
Study guides (3)
Additional resources (3)
Practice Questions (14)
- An object with mass 'm' travels at a velocity of 'v', and has a kinetic energy of K. If the object's mass triples and its speed is halved, what happens to its kinetic energy 'K'?
- What is the mass of a horse moving at 5 m/s with a kinetic energy of 50 J?
- What is the velocity of a moving object that has a mass of 20kg and an associated kinetic energy of 250J?
- If an object with a mass of 50kg is moving at a speed of 5m/s, what is its kinetic energy?
- Bobby, of mass m, and Sally, of mass 0.75m, slide down the same frictionless slide. Who has more kinetic energy at the bottom of the slide?
- At what point in the motion of a stone thrown directly upwards, does it have minimum kinetic energy?
- Kinetic energy is conserved in an ______ collision.
- Two carts, each of mass 4kg, move towards each other with a total kinetic energy of 122 J. After the two carts collide, Cart A has a velocity of 5 m/s to the left and Cart B has a velocity of 6 m/s to the right. What type of collision is this, assuming no external work was done?
- To find the Kinetic Energy of a collision, which is appropriate?
- What direction is the kinetic energy of an object in?
- An archer shoots an arrow at a pumpkin on a stand. The arrow embeds itself into the pumpkin and both fly off of the stand at the same velocity. Momentum is conserved. What is the relationship between the initial and final kinetic energy for this collision?
- If an object has kinetic energy, then it also must have
- If the kinetic energy of a spring at its equilibrium position preparing to move to its negative amplitude is 20J, what is its displacement as it moves to its negative amplitude position given a spring constant of 100N/m. Assume surface is frictionless.
- If we determine the mass of an object using kinetic energy, what type of mass are we determining?
Resources
© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.
AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.