What is Kinetic energy: Definition and 1000 Discussions

In physics, the kinetic energy of an object is the energy that it possesses due to its motion.
It is defined as the work needed to accelerate a body of a given mass from rest to its stated velocity. Having gained this energy during its acceleration, the body maintains this kinetic energy unless its speed changes. The same amount of work is done by the body when decelerating from its current speed to a state of rest.
In classical mechanics, the kinetic energy of a non-rotating object of mass m traveling at a speed v is










1
2


m

v

2









{\displaystyle {\begin{smallmatrix}{\frac {1}{2}}mv^{2}\end{smallmatrix}}}
. In relativistic mechanics, this is a good approximation only when v is much less than the speed of light.
The standard unit of kinetic energy is the joule, while the English unit of kinetic energy is the foot-pound.

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  1. R

    Calculate the kinetic energy of an electron with a wavelength of 1fm

    Homework Statement Calculate the kinetic energy of an electron with a wavelength of 1fm Homework Equations DeBroglie's relation E^2=(pc)^2+\left(mc^2\right)^2 The Attempt at a Solution I used debroglies relation to find momentum. plugged that into find E, and then subtracted the...
  2. F

    Reduce the amount of kinetic energy loss in a collision

    I have a lab in which a moving marble collides with a still one. What changes could I make to reduce the amount of kinetic energy loss in the collision? The track for the marbles is a piece of card stock paper. I was thinking: -Use two tubes as a track which will reduce the amount of...
  3. J

    How Is Work and Kinetic Energy Calculated in Physics Problems?

    Homework Statement 6. A 2.5-kg book slides horizontally and falls from a shelf 3.0m above the floor. How much work does the force of gravity do on the book as it falls 3.0m? F. 1.2 J G. 7.5 J H. 24.5 J J. 73.5 J 7. Which of the following is the minimum amount of work done by a...
  4. L

    Acceleration of Proton (Kinetic Energy & relativity)

    Homework Statement a) Calculate the kinetic energy required to accelerate a single proton from a rest position to 0.9999c. The mass of a proton is 1.67*10^-27 Kg. b) Find the ratio of kinetic energy to the energy of a proton at rest Homework Equations Ekrest = mc2 Ek=...
  5. P

    Kinetic Energy in Inelastic Collision

    Hi, first post on the forum! We know that kinetic energy is not conserved in an inelastic collision, and how much of the kinetic energy is lost we can find it out through applying conservation of momentum. But one thing that I don't understand is how does the system know exactly how much...
  6. A

    Validating the kinetic energy for the two particle collision problem

    Homework Statement The following is a summaration of a piece of text in my textbook: The setting is two particles moving in one dimension, under mutual forces, so that the equations of motion are (1): m_1 a_1=F and m_2 a_2=-F (a stands for acceleration) F is only a function of...
  7. Saitama

    Calculating Kinetic Energy of a Segment: Where Did I Go Wrong?

    Homework Statement (see attachment 1) Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution I have attached my working, the correct answer is (A) but I can't see where I went wrong. Any help is appreciated!
  8. J

    Finding Rotational Kinetic Energy of Sphere on Ramp

    Homework Statement If Inga, the Laboratory Assistant, rolls a spare head down a 4 m ramp because it was spherical and solid and too heavy at 4.5 kg at a speed of 4.5 m/s, what was its total kinetic energy? Homework Equations KE = (1/2) I ω^2 I = (2/5) MR^2 The Attempt at a Solution...
  9. PhizKid

    Work, potential and kinetic energy help

    Homework Statement A 30 kg block is slid down an inclined plane 5 m long with a height of 3 m from the floor. If the force of friction is 50 N, find the work done by the friction and the final velocity at the end of the plane. Homework Equations W = F*d mgh = (1/2)mv^2 The Attempt at...
  10. T

    Kinetic energy of 3 rolling objects

    Homework Statement Part 1: Three objects, a solid cylinder, solid sphere, and a hoop all have equal radii and mass. They all roll down the same incline. Which of the following statements is true about the kinetic energy K of the of the objects after they have rolled down the incline and...
  11. DiracPool

    Hamiltonian Kinetic Energy Operator

    In the QM Hamiltonian, I keep seeing h-bar/2m instead of p/2m for the kinetic energy term. H-bar is not equivalent to momentum. What am I missing here?
  12. R

    Help with Potential Energy vs Kinetic Energy and finding final velocity

    Ok before we get to number 3, I need to show you what I did for number 2 because this is kind of a two-part problem: PEinitial + KEinitial = PEfinal + KEfinal mgy + (1/2)mvi2 = (1/2)mvf2 gy + (1/2)vi2 = (1/2)vf2 (9.81)(10) + (1/2)(102) = vf2/2 98.1 + 50 = vf2/2 148.1 = vf2/2 2(148.1) = vf2...
  13. R

    Help with Kinetic Energy concept of two masses that move the same distance

    Help with Kinetic Energy concept of two masses that move the same distance! I don't understand why the answer to this is B :( Because KE = (1/2)mv2, if they move the same distance and have DIFFERENT masses, the kinetic energies would be different no?
  14. B

    Angular Speed And Kinetic Energy

    The problem I am working on is: "A student sits on a freely rotating stool holding two dumbbells, each of mass 2.97 kg (see figure below). When his arms are extended horizontally (figure a), the dumbbells are 0.95 m from the axis of rotation and the student rotates with an angular speed of...
  15. P

    Kinetic energy involving angular momentum and inertia

    Homework Statement Problem with diagram here Homework Equations I=(1/3)MR2 (I believe the formula given in the problem is incorrect since it is pivoting on one end rather than the center of mass) KE=(1/2)Iω2+(1/2)Mv2 L=Iω=MvR The Attempt at a Solution a. True, the velocity is still going in...
  16. H

    Calculate the speed of a proton given its kinetic energy

    Calculate the speed of a proton given its kinetic energy! Homework Statement Find the speed of a proton (mass = 1.67E-27 kg), if its kinetic energy is 145eV. Write your answer correct to three significant figures. Homework Equations W=.5*m*v^2 Proton Mass = 1.67E-27 kg I tried using...
  17. C

    Derivation of the kinetic energy equation in terms of distance.

    I have seen the derivation of the kinetic energy equation using F=M*v' and E=F*x And I can see how this works, however if you try to do this without thinking about velocity, and only thinking about the rate of change of distance, and the rate of change of rate of change of distance, then the...
  18. S

    Finding Kinetic Energy of Ions Leaving a Charged Plate

    I need to know how to find the kinetic energy of ions leaving a charged plate. I figure I can find the electric potential energy, but all i know is the power being supplied to the plate and the plate's cross-sectional area. Any ideas? Thanks in advance!
  19. B

    Rotational Kinetic Energy of Big Ben

    The problem I am working on is: "Big Ben, the Parliament tower clock in London, has an hour hand 2.70 m long with a mass of 300 kg, and a minute hand 4.20 m long with a mass of 100 kg (see figure below). Calculate the total rotational kinetic energy of the two hands about the axis of rotation...
  20. M

    Find final rotational kinetic energy without knowing radius?

    Homework Statement A 0.125kg basketball is rolling w/out slipping on a horizontal table at 4.50 m/s when it rolls off the edge and it falls to the floor, 1.10 m below. What is the rotational kinetic energy of the ball right before hitting floor?Homework Equations KE rot: .5 I w^2 KE...
  21. M

    Unlocking the Power of Kinetic Energy: A Guide to the EK=1/2*m*v^2 Formula

    Hi! The kinetic formula are EK=1/2*m*v^2. But how do we find it?
  22. L

    (Average) Kinetic Energy of Molecules

    I'm confused with this topic. However, I think I know a bit. There's something to do with the temperature and it affects the energy of the molecules. Can someone help?
  23. B

    The relationship between Kinetic Energy and Position

    Task So I am writting a lab, and one of the testable questions required me to come up with a relationship between position and kinetic energy. In the lab a cart is released on a ramp and the end point of the cart is used as the reference point (h=0). We formed a position time graph and we...
  24. J

    Quick question regarding kinetic energy, potential energy and velocity.

    Ok so I have got the right answer to my calculation however I do not understand part of it, here is the question... Q2: The rollercoaster car from Task 1 Q2 above is initially traveling at 6.5m/s at point A in the diagram below. Assuming negligible frictional forces as previously, what will...
  25. P

    Finding Kinetic Energy and Velocity of a pulley / block system

    Homework Statement In the problem, a hanging block, m, is attached to a pulley that is mounted on a horizontal axle with negligible friction. The pulley has a mass of M=75kg and a radius of R=6.0cm. The mass of the hanging block is m=1kg. The block is released from rest at a height above the...
  26. D

    Question about vibrational kinetic energy and potential energy.

    Homework Statement You hold up an object that consists of two blocks at rest, each of mass M = 3 kg, connected by a low-mass spring. Then you suddenly start applying a larger upward force, of constant magnitude F = 94 N (which is greater than 2Mg). Some time later, the blocks have moved...
  27. binbagsss

    Rotational and Translational Kinetic Energy - marble and bowl problem.

    A uniform marble rolls down a symmetric bowl, starting from rest at the top of the left side. The top of each side is a distance above the bottom of the bowl. The left half of the bowl is rough enough to cause the marble to roll without slipping, but the right half has no friction because it...
  28. N

    Minimum possible kinetic energy in an interaction

    Homework Statement Object A of mass 10 kg moving at 10 m/s [E] interacts with (but does not touch) Object B of mass 8 kg moving at 12 m/s [N]. What is the minimum possible kinetic energy of the system after the collision? Homework Equations M1V1o + M2V2o = M1V1f + M2V2f KE = (.5)(m)(v2)...
  29. L

    Kinetic energy and momentum

    Homework Statement A car (of constant mass) doubles its kinetic energy while driving down a hill sloped at 45º. The factor by which its momentum changes is answer is 1.4?
  30. L

    Elastic collision and kinetic energy problem?

    Homework Statement The figure below shows a thin, uniform bar whose length is L and mass is M and a compact hard sphere whose mass is m. The system is supported by a frictionless horizontal surface. The sphere moves to the right with velocity , and strikes the bar at a distance 1/4L from the...
  31. B

    Kinetic Energy rotational and translational conceptual question.

    Homework Statement A ball rolls without slipping down incline A, starting from rest. At the same time, a box starts from rest and slides down incline B, which is identical to incline A except that it is frictionless. Which arrives at the bottom first? (a) The ball arrives first. (b) The...
  32. B

    Joule's Apparatus and Kinetic Energy

    In my textbook, Joule's apparatus (two blocks falling from height h turn a paddle that stirs and increases the internal energy of water) is claimed to convert the potential energy of the two blocks into internal energy that can be measured by the increase in temperature of the water... but what...
  33. L

    Conservation of energy with kinetic energy and spring

    Homework Statement A dynamics cart 1 ahs a mass of 1.8 kg and is moving with a velocity of 4.0 m/s[right] along a frictionless track. Dynamics cart 2 has a mass of 2.2 kg and is moving at 6.0 m/s[left]. The carts collide in a head-on elastic collision cushioned by a spring with spring constant...
  34. E

    How does kinetic energy of gases relate to their volume?

    Which of the following statements accounts for the observation that, at 300 K and 10 atm, the molar volume of C2H6(g) is less than that of H2(g)? A C2H6 molecules are smaller than H2 molecules. B The average kinetic energy of H2 molecules is greater than that of C2H6 molecules. C The average...
  35. L

    Kinetic energy along with conservation of momentum

    Homework Statement a hockey player of mass 80 kg was skating at a velocity of 7.5 m/s [E 20 S] when he accidently hit a linesman who was just standing on the ice. The mass of the linesmass is 90 kg and his velocity after the collision was 3 m/s [E 30 N] find. a) the velocity of the hockey...
  36. J

    Showing Momentum and Kinetic Energy In Terms of a Singular Formula

    Homework Statement Click to enlarge Homework Equations K= 1/2 mv12 + 1/2mv22 p= m1v1 +m2v2 The Attempt at a Solution I have pages and pages of trying to simplify/work backwards and nothing is working!
  37. P

    How does increasing momentum affect kinetic energy?

    If the momentum of a body is increased n times, its kinetic energy increases by how many times?
  38. L

    How can a system of particles with kinetic energy have no momentum?

    I thought objects with kinetic energy have to be moving... And moving objects have momentum... So how is it that something with kinetic energy can have no momentum? Could you give me specific examples of such cases? Thank you so much! :)
  39. T

    Kinetic energy: what percentage has been lost?

    Homework Statement So there's a particle of mass 4u that strikes another particle of mass 196u. The collision is elastic. What percentage of its original kinetic energy has the moving particle lost? Homework Equations m1v1o + m2v2o = m1vf + m2v2f K1o + K2o = K1f + K2f The Attempt...
  40. M

    Do kinetic energy conserved in a 2 dimensional collision?

    Like the tittle suggests, do kinetic energy conserved in a 2 dimensional collision? Like when 2 metal balls collide. Thanks!
  41. N

    Potential & Kinetic Energy of Revolving Object (e.g. Moon)

    So let's consider the moon its rotating around the Earth in a fixed orbit, its moving at a velocity say v so it possesses a kinetic energy 1/2 mv2 . the gravitational force between the Earth and the moon is also present which attracts the moon towards the Earth . My question is does the moon has...
  42. L

    What linear speed must a 0.0500-kg hula hoop have if its total kinetic energy

    "What linear speed must a 0.0500-kg hula hoop have if its total kinetic energy..." Hi, you guys!:tongue: I found the answer, but I am a bit confused as to the method of solving this problem... Thanks for your help! :) 1. What linear speed must a 0.0500-kg hula hoop have if its total kinetic...
  43. K

    Conservation of kinetic energy

    Homework Statement I am asked to explain the conservation of kinetic energy I am having trouble finding this..I do know that kinetic eneergy is conserved in an elastic collision and part of the KE is changed to some other form of energy in an inelastic collision
  44. P

    Kinetic Energy of a wheel with spokes

    Homework Statement A wheel has a thin 3kg rim and four spokes each of mass 1.2kg. Homework Equations Find the kinetic energy of the wheel when it rolls at 6 m/s on a horizontal surface. The Attempt at a Solution
  45. A

    Projectile Motion (potential & kinetic energy)

    The question is in the attachment. a) for the height i got 1.25m which you get by using displacement and acceleration. (t=20/40=0.5sec) b) a=v/t, 10*0.5=5m/s c) At initial point: mgh= 0.040*10*1.25=0.5J 1/2mv^2=1/2*0.040*40^2=32J Hits Ground: mgh=0.040*10*0=0J 1/2mv^2=1/2*0.040*(20 or 40)^2...
  46. A

    Derive % change Kinetic energy eqn for inelastic collision

    Homework Statement We did a lab in my PHYS with Caclulus I class involving a collision of cart A (given an initial push) and cart B (initially at rest) on a relatively smooth surface. *At the moment of the collision, the two carts become attached, providing a completely inelastic collision*...
  47. B

    Understanding the Relationship between Kinetic and Potential Energy in Freefall

    Homework Statement You drop a ball from a high balcony and it falls freely. Does the ball's kinetic energy increase by equal amounts in equal time intervals, or by equal amounts in equal distances? Explain.Homework Equations KE = 1/2mv^2 PE = mgy Conservation of energy: Emech = KE + PE; Esys =...
  48. M

    Kinetic Energy of Electron Beam.

    Homework Statement Two horizontal plates connected to 600v with the positive at the top. A positively charged ion between the plates moves downwards under the force of the field (neglect gravity). The ion has charge 1.6×10^–19C and mass 2.3×10^–26kg. Show that the kinetic energy of the ion is...
  49. M

    Does the angle of fall affect the change in kinetic energy of a log?

    There is a uniform log lying on the ground.Now we can lift this up from one end such that the other end is in contact with the ground.Now keep the log vertical. Case 1: Let the log fall freely such that when it comes to rest it is inline with the initial position of the log. Case 2: Let...
  50. J

    Rotational Kinetic Energy of disc brakes

    The disc brakes of a high performance car are often made of carbon fiber instead of iron, thereby reducing the mass. If both types of discs are of the same size and shape, and each iron disc has a mass of 4 kg and each carbon disc has a mass of 1 kg, what is the reduction in rotational kinetic...
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