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18.1 Kinetic energy

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Kinetic energy

Kinetic Energy

Kinetic energy is the energy an object has due to its motion.

Kinetic energy is the energy an object has because of its motion. This means that any moving object has kinetic energy. The faster it moves, the more kinetic energy it has. Kinetic energy ( E K ) is therefore dependent on the velocity of the object. The mass of the object also plays a role. A truck of 2 000 kg , moving at 100 km · hr - 1 , will have more kinetic energy than a car of 500 kg , also moving at 100 km · hr - 1 . Kinetic energy is defined as:

You may sometimes see kinetic energy written as KE . This is simply another way to write kinetic energy. We will not use this form in this book, but you may see it written like this in other books.
E K = 1 2 m v 2

Consider the 1 kg suitcase on the cupboard that was discussed earlier. When the suitcase falls, it will gain velocity (fall faster), until it reaches the ground with a maximum velocity. The suitcase will not have any kinetic energy when it is on top of the cupboard because it is not moving. Once it starts to fall it will gain kinetic energy, because it gains velocity. Its kinetic energy will increase until it is a maximum when the suitcase reaches the ground.

A 1 kg brick falls off a 4 m high roof. It reaches the ground with a velocity of 8,85 m · s - 1 . What is the kinetic energy of the brick when it starts to fall and when it reaches the ground?

    • The mass of the rock m = 1 kg
    • The velocity of the rock at the bottom v bottom = 8,85 m · s - 1

    These are both in the correct units so we do not have to worry about unit conversions.

  2. We are asked to find the kinetic energy of the brick at the top and the bottom. From the definition we know that to work out K E , we need to know the mass and the velocity of the object and we are given both of these values.

  3. Since the brick is not moving at the top, its kinetic energy is zero.

  4. K E = 1 2 m v 2 = 1 2 ( 1 kg ) ( 8 , 85 m · s - 1 ) 2 = 39 , 2 J

Checking units

According to the equation for kinetic energy, the unit should be kg · m 2 · s - 2 . We can prove that this unit is equal to the joule, the unit for energy.

( kg ) ( m · s - 1 ) 2 = ( kg · m · s - 2 ) · m = N · m ( because Force ( N ) = mass ( kg ) × acceleration ( m · s - 2 ) ) = J ( Work ( J ) = Force ( N ) × distance ( m ) )

We can do the same to prove that the unit for potential energy is equal to the joule:

( kg ) ( m · s - 2 ) ( m ) = N · m = J

A bullet, having a mass of 150 g , is shot with a muzzle velocity of 960 m · s - 1 . Calculate its kinetic energy.

    • We are given the mass of the bullet m = 150 g . This is not the unit we want mass to be in. We need to convert to kg.
      Mass in grams ÷ 1000 = Mass in kg 150 g ÷ 1000 = 0 , 150 kg
    • We are given the initial velocity with which the bullet leaves the barrel, called the muzzle velocity, and it is v = 960 m · s - 1 .
    • We are asked to find the kinetic energy.

  3. We just substitute the mass and velocity (which are known) into the equation for kinetic energy:

    E K = 1 2 m v 2 = 1 2 ( 0 , 150 ) ( 960 ) 2 = 69 120 J

Kinetic energy

  1. Describe the relationship between an object's kinetic energy and its:
    1. mass and
    2. velocity
  2. A stone with a mass of 100 g is thrown up into the air. It has an initial velocity of 3 m · s - 1 . Calculate its kinetic energy
    1. as it leaves the thrower's hand.
    2. when it reaches its turning point.
  3. A car with a mass of 700 kg is travelling at a constant velocity of 100 km · hr - 1 . Calculate the kinetic energy of the car.
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Source:  OpenStax, Siyavula textbooks: grade 10 physical science [caps]. OpenStax CNX. Sep 30, 2011 Download for free at http://cnx.org/content/col11305/1.7
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