Inability to calculate kinetic energy if I use SI units

AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around the confusion in calculating kinetic energy using different unit systems. A participant calculates the kinetic energy of a 2000 lb car at 88 ft/s as 240 kJ using English units, while another calculation for a 909 kg car at 26.73 m/s yields 324.7 kJ in SI units. The discrepancy arises from the different units of energy used, with English units resulting in ft-lbs rather than joules. Clarification is provided that 1 joule equals 0.7376 ft-lbf, highlighting the need to convert units appropriately. The conversation emphasizes the importance of understanding unit conversions in physics calculations.
ErikMBrewer
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Homework Statement



If a 2000 lb car with a velocity of 88 ft/s has by my calculations a kinetic energy of 240 kJ. But
for a 909kg car with a velocity of 26.73 m/s I calculate 324.7 kJ. Same velocity, same mass, different energy calculation.

Homework Equations



English units: Kinetic energy(Ek)=.5(m)v^2; m= w/g; 2000 lb/32.2= 62.1 slugs:
5(62.1)(88)^2=240 kJ
SI units: Ek=.5(m)v^2; kg-mass=kg; 1 kg/2.2lbs; 1 ft= .301 m: .5(909)(26.73)^2=
324.8 kJ

The Attempt at a Solution

Am I getting my metric mass wrong? I'm having a very hard time wrapping my head around this. Please help me.
 
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ErikMBrewer said:
English units: Kinetic energy(Ek)=.5(m)v^2; m= w/g; 2000 lb/32.2= 62.1 slugs:
5(62.1)(88)^2=240 kJ
If you use English units, your answer will not be in Joules. What's the English unit of energy?
 
I believe that the English units for work (force x distance) are lb x ft and horsepower so then they must also be the English units for kinetic energy. Thank you very much!
 
Last edited:
To wit:
1 joule = 0.7376 ft-lbf (foot-pound force) of work
1 joule/sec = 1 watt (power)
1 horsepower = 550 ft-lbs/sec (not work, but power) = 746 watts
 
doc al said:
what's the English unit of energy?

BTU?

(which gets automatically decapitalized when posted without a comment )
 
BTUs are generally used to express the thermal equivalent or work, or energy.
1 BTU = 778 ft-lbf = 1055 joules.
 
In the OP's problem, the calculated energy using English units will be in ft-lbs, not J.
 
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