What is Kinetic Energy and How to Compute It?

Basketball gaining kinetic energy while an athlete kicks it
Kinetic Energy is the energy possessed by an object by virtue of its motion. Kinetic Energy is a consequence of the object’s velocity. Because of its motion, the object is capable of performing work, or transferring energy.
 
A bowling ball that is made to roll along the bowling lane possess kinetic energy. The kinetic energy of the bowling ball depends on two variables - its mass and its velocity. Kinetic energy is directly proportional to mass. A heavier object has more kinetic energy than a lighter one, granted both objects are moving at the same speed. 
kinetic energy of small truck with mass of 5,000 kg and velocity of 10 m/s

 

Kinetic energy of big truck with mass of 10,000 kg and speed of 10 m/s

A heavier truck posses more kinetic energy than the smaller truck. The KE of the 5000 kg truck is 250,000 J at 10 m/s velocity while the 10,000 kg truck has a KE of 500,000 J

In terms of velocity, the faster the ball rolls, the greater is its kinetic energy. In fact, the relationship between kinetic energy and velocity is a direct square relationship. Kinetic energy is directly proportional to the square of the objects velocity. When an object's velocity is increased twice, the kinetic energy of the object increases four times. 
The acquired kinetic energy of the bowling ball makes it capable of performing work on the pins. As the massive, fast moving ball hits the pins, the pins are thrown from their position. The work performed by the ball on the pins can be computed by Work = Force x displacement.
 
Kinetic energy is measured in terms of SI unit joule. The unit joule (symbol: J) is named in honor to the scientist James Prescott Joule who discovered the relationship between heat and work. Kinetic energy is computed using the formula KE = 1/2 (mv2) which can also be written as KE = (mv2)/2. 
 
As said, kinetic energy is directly proportional to mass. When comparing kinetic energies of two different objects with different masses but are moving at the same velocity, the more massive object has more kinetic energy than the less massive one. 
 
Sample Problems:
 
Problem 1. A baseball has a mass of 0.15 kg. Calculate the kinetic energy of the baseball moving at 20 m/s.
 
Given:
Mass = 0.15 kg
Velocity = 20 m/s
 
Required: Kinetic Energy
 
Equation: KE = (mv2)/2
 
Solution:
KE = [(0.15 kg) (20 m/s)2] / 2
KE = [(0.15 kg) (400 m2/s2)] / 2
KE = (60 kg m2/s2) / 2
KE = 30 kg m2/s2
KE = 30 joules 
 
Problem 2. What is the KE of the baseball (mass = 0.15 kg) if its velocity is 40 m/s?

Given:
Mass = 0.15 kg
Velocity = 40 m/s

Required: Kinetic Energy

Equation: KE = (mv2)/2

Solution:
KE = [(0.15 kg) (40 m/s)2] / 2
KE = [(0.15 kg) (1600 m2/s2)] / 2
KE = (240 kg m2/s2) / 2
KE = 120 kg m2/s2
KE = 120 joules


Notice that as the velocity of the baseball is doubled, its kinetic energy is increased four times (from 30 joules to 120 joules!)


Problem 3. 
An object has a kinetic energy of 35 joules. If the velocity of the object is 2 m/s, what is the mass of the object?

Given:
Kinetic Energy = 35 J
Velocity = 2 m/s

Required: Mass

Equation: 
KE = (mv2)/2
m = 2 KE / v2

Solution:
m = (2 x 35 J) / (2 m/s)2
m = 70 J / 4 m2/s2
m = 70 kg m2/s2 / 4 m2/s2
m = 17.5 kg 


Problem 4.
What is the velocity of a ball with mass of 0.5 kg and a kinetic energy of 30 J?

Given:
Kinetic Energy = 30 J
Mass = 0.5 kg

Required: Velocity

Equation:
KE = (mv2)/2
v = √(2KE/m)
v = √[2 (30 J )] / 0.5 kg)
v = √ 60J  / 0.5 kg)
v = √ 60 kg m2/s2  / 0.5 kg)
v = √ 120 m2/s2
v = √ 120 m2/s2
v = 11 m/s

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