Kinetic energy is the energy possessed by an object due to its motion. It depends on both the mass and velocity of the object.
The unit of kinetic energy is the joule (J).
One joule of energy in terms of sound energy is equivalent to the energy produced by a small, quiet conversation.
The mathematical relation for kinetic energy (KE) is given by the formula:
Kinetic Energy = 0.5 × m × v2
where m is the mass of the object and v is its velocity.
Daily Life Examples of Kinetic Energy
- A moving car
- A thrown baseball
- Swinging pendulum
- Falling raindrop
- Jumping on a trampoline
- Wind blowing through the trees
- Skateboarding down a ramp
- A spinning top
- Running water in a stream
- Kids playing on a swing
Types of Kinetic Energy
- Translational Kinetic Energy: Associated with linear motion.
- Rotational Kinetic Energy: Associated with the rotation of an object.
- Vibrational Kinetic Energy: Associated with oscillations or vibrations.
More Examples of Kinetic Energy:
| Object | Mass (kg) | Velocity (m/s) | Kinetic Energy (J) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sprinting Human | 70 | 9 | 2,835 |
| Airplane (takeoff speed) | 150,000 | 90 | 607,500,000 |
| Bicycle (riding speed) | 10 | 5 | 125 |
| Roller Coaster (peak) | 1,000 | 15 | 112,500 |
| Earth’s Orbital Motion | – | 29,780 | – (considered constant) |
| Bullet (handgun) | 0.005 | 400 | 400 |
| Speeding Train | 200,000 | 36 | 129,600,000 |
| Wind Turbine Blade Tip | – | 50 | – (depends on blade size) |
| Running Cheetah | 60 | 30 | 27,000 |
| Basketball (dribbling) | 0.6 | 5 | 7.5 |
