Kinetic energy is the energy an object possesses due to its motion.
🔹 Formula for Kinetic Energy:
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= kinetic energy (in joules, J)
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= mass of the object (in kilograms, kg)
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= velocity of the object (in meters per second, m/s)
🔹 Key Points:
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If the object is not moving, its kinetic energy is zero.
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Doubling the velocity quadruples the kinetic energy (since velocity is squared).
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Kinetic energy is a scalar quantity—it has magnitude but no direction
Types of Kinetic Energy
There are different forms of kinetic energy depending on the type of motion:
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Translational Kinetic Energy
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Energy due to movement from one location to another.
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Commonly used formula:
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Rotational Kinetic Energy
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Energy due to rotation around an axis.
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Formula:
where is the moment of inertia and is angular velocity.
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Vibrational Kinetic Energy
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Energy in objects that are vibrating (e.g., atoms in molecules).
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🔹 Examples of Kinetic Energy
| Object | Type of Motion | Kinetic Energy Example |
|---|---|---|
| A moving car | Translational | Car of mass 1000 kg moving at 20 m/s has 200,000 J |
| A spinning wheel | Rotational | Has rotational kinetic energy based on speed and mass |
| A bouncing guitar string | Vibrational | Produces sound through vibrational KE |
🔹 Relationship with Work and Energy
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Work-Energy Principle: The work done on an object is equal to the change in its kinetic energy.
So, applying a force to accelerate an object increases its kinetic energy.
🔹 Conversions with Other Forms of Energy
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Kinetic energy can be converted into or from:
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Potential energy (e.g., falling objects)
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Thermal energy (e.g., through friction)
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Electrical energy (e.g., wind turbines)
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🔹 Real-Life Applications
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Vehicles: Kinetic energy is why brakes heat up when stopping a car.
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Roller coasters: Exchange kinetic and potential energy throughout the ride.
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Sports: A kicked soccer ball has kinetic energy based on how hard it’s kicked.
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Wind power: Wind turbines convert the kinetic energy of moving air into electricity.
Derivation of the Kinetic Energy Formula
The formula:
comes from applying Newton's Second Law and the definition of work.
Step-by-step:
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Work is defined as:
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From Newton’s Second Law:
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If we assume the object starts from rest and moves with constant acceleration:
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Substitute and into the work equation:
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Since work equals change in energy:
🔹 Kinetic Energy vs. Potential Energy
| Aspect | Kinetic Energy (KE) | Potential Energy (PE) |
|---|---|---|
| Depends on | Mass and velocity | Mass, height (or configuration), and gravity |
| Formula | (gravitational PE) | |
| Zero when | Object is at rest | Object is at ground level (if PE = 0 there) |
| Increases with | Speed | Height (or stretch/compression in a spring) |
| Converts to | PE when object rises | KE when object falls |
🔹 Conservation of Mechanical Energy
In an ideal system (no friction or air resistance):
Example:
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A ball dropped from a height converts potential energy into kinetic energy as it falls.
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At the top: PE is max, KE is 0
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At the bottom: PE is 0, KE is max
🔹 Technological and Scientific Applications
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Crash Testing – Understanding how KE is absorbed during collisions helps improve vehicle safety.
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Spacecraft Re-entry – Kinetic energy turns into heat energy due to air friction, requiring heat shields.
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Hydroelectric Power – Water's KE turns turbines to generate electricity.
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Projectile Motion – Used in ballistics, sports, and engineering.
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Energy Storage – Flywheels store kinetic energy to release later (used in some electric vehicles and satellites).
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Wind and Water Turbines – Convert moving fluid’s KE into usable energy.
🔹 Interesting Fact
At the molecular level, temperature is a measure of the average kinetic energy of particles. That's why heating something makes molecules move faster.
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