Kinetic energy

Kinetic Energy

Kinetic energy (pronounced: kɪˈnɛtɪk ˈɛnərdʒi) 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.

Etymology

The term "kinetic" comes from the Greek word "kinesis", meaning motion. The term "energy" comes from the Greek word "energeia", which means activity or operation. In physics, "kinetic energy" is the energy of motion.

Definition

Kinetic energy can be defined as the energy which a body possesses because of its motion. It is directly proportional to the mass of the object and to the square of its velocity: KE = 1/2 mv^2 where m is the mass and v is the velocity.

Types of Kinetic Energy

There are several types of kinetic energy, including:

Translational kinetic energy: This is the energy due to linear motion.
Rotational kinetic energy: This is the energy due to rotational motion.
Vibrational kinetic energy: This is the energy due to vibrational motion.

Related Terms

Potential Energy: The energy possessed by a body by virtue of its position relative to others, stresses within itself, electric charge, and other factors.
Mechanical Energy: The sum of potential energy and kinetic energy. It is the energy associated with the motion and position of an object.
Conservation of Energy: A principle stating that energy cannot be created or destroyed, but can be altered from one form to another.
Work (physics): In physics, work is the energy transferred to or from an object via the application of force along a displacement.