Kinetic Energy

Kinetic Energy is the energy that an object 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.

Definition

The kinetic energy (KE) of an object can be calculated from the mass and speed of that object using the equation:

KE = 1/2 mv^2

where:

• m is the mass of the object,
• v is the speed of the object.

Types of Kinetic Energy

There are several types of kinetic energy, including:

• Translational kinetic energy of an object is the kinetic energy due to linear motion.
• Rotational kinetic energy is the kinetic energy due to rotational motion.
• Vibrational kinetic energy is the kinetic energy due to vibrational motion.

Applications

Kinetic energy can be harnessed to do work. For example, the kinetic energy of wind can be captured by a wind turbine and used to generate electricity.

See also

• Potential energy
• Mechanical energy
• Conservation of energy
• Work (physics)

References

Kinetic Energy Resources
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