Kinetic Definition and 1000 Threads

In physics, the kinetic energy of an object is the energy that it 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. The same amount of work is done by the body when decelerating from its current speed to a state of rest.
In classical mechanics, the kinetic energy of a non-rotating object of mass m traveling at a speed v is










1
2


m

v

2









{\displaystyle {\begin{smallmatrix}{\frac {1}{2}}mv^{2}\end{smallmatrix}}}
. In relativistic mechanics, this is a good approximation only when v is much less than the speed of light.
The standard unit of kinetic energy is the joule, while the English unit of kinetic energy is the foot-pound.

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  1. H

    Question about the Kinetic Energy of a baseball in flight

    A baseball is thrown and lands 120 m away. While the ball is in flight, assuming the effect of air friction is negligible, which of the following is true? a. At maximum height the ball has its greatest kinetic energy. b. The horizontal component of the baseball’s kinetic energy is constant. c...
  2. A

    Confusion about tidal locking and rotational kinetic energy

    Hello! I was reading two things: 1) tidal locking (as explained in the Wikipedia article:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tidal_locking where it is stated that, because of internal friction caused by the body of water being attracted to the moon and deforming, the kinetic energy of the system...
  3. P

    Kinetic Theory - A gas mixture effuses through a hole, find the pressure change

    So I know Dalton's law as stated above which I think is applicable in this question. Then I know the effusion rate is ##\frac{1}{4} n \bar{v}##, and from this we can make a differential for the time evolution of the number density of the gas in the container which is: ##\frac{dn}{dt} =...
  4. J

    Escape Velocity Question: Why is the final kinetic energy = 0?

    So Ekf-Eki+Epf-Epi=0. I understand that the final potential energy is 0 (distance away approaches infinity), but don't get why the final kinetic energy becomes 0. If the final kinetic energy was 0, wouldn't that mean the object no longer has any velocity and would start being effected by the...
  5. F

    Internal forces converting kinetic into potential energy (vice versa)

    Hello, Trivial question: a system is isolated and all its internal forces are conservative. Because of Newton's 3rd law, all internal forces are pairwise and the net internal force is always zero (regardless of the forces being conservative or not) hence the system's total momentum is conserved...
  6. T

    Average Kinetic Energy of molecules calculation

    the answer in the solution book is 29K which only comes if I use mass for only one atom. ( They did not show any working ) My attempt: 1/2 x (1.67 x 10^(-27)) x (355)^(2) = 3/2 x 1.38 x 10^(-23) x T T = 29.48820652 K The confusion arises when I tried the following question: Q. Estimate the...
  7. rumborak

    I am confused about the meaning, and value, of kinetic energy

    This confusion has lingered in the back of my mind for years now, would be good for me to finally get a grasp on this. Say I have an object currently at rest, and I use energy X to accelerate it to speed v. According to the standard formula, it now has a kinetic energy 1/2mv^2. Now I use the...
  8. greg_rack

    Kinetic energy transformed in a collision involving coalescing particles

    This problem got me kinda confused since I cannot really understand the question... who tells me how the energy dissipated in this case? Has it all transformed into heat to cause the coalesce of the two particles, or ar the two particles now merged together still traveling with a certain amount...
  9. EchoRush

    Help with deriving the formula for kinetic energy (using calculus)

    Hello, I am learning how to use calculus to derive the formula for kinetic energy now, I understandthe majority of the steps in how to do this, however, there is one step where I get totally lost, I will post a picture of the steps and I will circle the part where I get lost. If you see the...
  10. L

    B Does an electron have kinetic energy when attached to a proton?

    does an electron have kinetic energy when attached to a proton? if not, what is it transformed into?
  11. R

    When is the rate of change of Kinetic Energy maximum here?

    Because, ##F=ma=kv##, therefore, ##a=kv/m##. Clearly, the net acceleration ##A=-(g+a)##. Also, ##A=dv/dt=-(g+ \frac {kv} m )##, so cross multiplying and integrating LHS with respect to ##v## and RHS with respect to ##t## gives me: $$ v= e^{ \frac {-tk} m } * (u + \frac {gm} k) - \frac {gm} k $$...
  12. D

    Why Does Kinetic Energy Increase More with Higher Initial Velocities?

    I have a problem regarding Kinetic Energy which as we know is 1/2 m v squared. Say I have a 1kg mass moving at 10 meters/second. I have a 1 Newton rocket which I attach to the back and it burns for 1 second accelerating the mass by 1 m/sec/sec to 11 m/sec. The KE originally was 50 joules and it...
  13. G

    How Do Kinetic and Potential Energy Differ in Physics?

    I know that (1/2)m(u^2) is KE and initially I thought this showed PE=KE but I don't think so anymore... I believe this has something to do with acceleration and Centripetal force but I'm so so confused
  14. Saptarshi Sarkar

    Conservation of angular momentum and rotational kinetic energy

    I first tried to get the solution by conserving the rotational kinetic energy and got ##\omega'=\frac2{\sqrt5} \omega##. But, it was not the correct answer. Next I tried by conserving the angular momentum and got ##\omega'=\frac 45 \omega##, which is the correct answer. Why is the rotational...
  15. Superposed_Cat

    I Pair production via Quantum Tunneling has negative Kinetic energy?

    If we have a photon being converted to a positron-electron pair, but we lack enough energy for this to happen (hv<2Me*c^2) but the difference is smaller than the uncertainty amount, such that tunneling may be possible, would the resultant pair have net negative energy? Would tunneling even be...
  16. Amaterasu21

    At what size is kinetic energy no longer related to temperature?

    Hi all, I've read so many times that "temperature is a measure of the average kinetic energy of the molecules in a substance," or sometimes "particles" to encompass atoms and ions too. But how big can "molecules/particles" be before their kinetic energy is no longer relevant to temperature? If...
  17. S

    The location of the point with lowest kinetic energy

    I am not sure I understand the question. I imagine there is a horizontal table and all the diagrams are the top-view of the table. The question states that "A particle moves from P1 to P2 without acceleration along five different paths". In the first picture, I think the path is in the shape of...
  18. hairey94

    Average Translational Kinetic Energy: P & V Given

    If this question asked for internal energy, then it is a straightforward thing, just use the formula U = (3/2) nRT = (3/2) PV. But the question specifically asked for average translational kinetic energy which I'm stuck with the value of T to plug in into the formula as the question only give us...
  19. G

    Why is the power of a particle on a wave zero in a stationary wave?

    I've marked the right answers. They mainly indicate at power carried by the particles being zero, and here is my doubt- why should it be zero? Shouldn't it have some definite value? I do understand that the kinetic energy is max at the y=0 and potential energy is max at y=A, but I don't know...
  20. K

    When does an object have kinetic rotational energy?

    When does an object have rotational energy? Is it only if it rotates around an axis within the object? Does for example a ball attached to a string with a uniform circular movement have rotational kinetic energy?
  21. F

    B In a nuclear decay, is all of the released energy kinetic energy?

    I'm trying to make up an example for my students to illustrate that in nuclear decay, mass-energy and momentum are both conserved. I found this problem: https://physics.stackexchange.com/questions/304277/calculate-velocity-of-radon-220-nuclear-after-decay I am trying to modify it so that they...
  22. R

    Why is the kinetic energy equation multiplied by ½?

    How did you find PF?: We can derive the equation 1/2mV2. But what is the fundamental reason behind mV2(total energy) is divided by half? I find only derivative solutions to this question. But still unsatisfied.
  23. jamiebean

    Pulling masses up a tilted plane with kinetic friction

    first, i calculated the kinetic friction: 0.77 x (weight of the 2 boxes x 9.8)= 55.16N then i calculated the angle of the triangle: tan^-1(2.5/4.75)=27.758 then i drew this then i used sine to find out force 3 which is 33.3556 so the final force needed is 33.3556 + kinetic friction=...
  24. A

    Temperature is a measure of the average kinetic energy of a gas?

    Why do they say temperature is a measure of average kinetic energy how is this possible. how can we take it is it applicable for all types of gases?
  25. Philip Koeck

    Deriving vdW-equation from kinetic theory

    Does anybody know of a derivation of the van der Waals equation from the molecular kinetic theory of gases, but without using the tools of statistical physics (such as partition functions)?
  26. E

    B Can a high energy kinetic impact stimulate nuclear reactions?

    I apologize in advance if this is in the wrong forum, I have no idea where this question would really sit. A number of proposed theoretical weapons, and a concept often used in science fiction, describe a satellite launched, or rather dropped, rod that would gain large amounts of kinetic energy...
  27. R

    Understanding Kinetic Energy, Angular Momentum & Torque

    Well I am pretty sure that the kinetic energy stays the same because in this case the velocity vector and energy make a ninety degree angle so no work is done, but I am lost about angular momentum. It could decrease maybe if the torque is clockwise while the ship is going in a counterclockwise...
  28. Amik

    Kinetic Energy: Trial 1 vs. Trial 2

    So, I know the right solution should be like it has same potential energy initially, in the trial one, since the floor is frictionless, the plane will move too and it shares the potential energy with the block. So in trial 1 the potential energy equals final kinetic energy of the block and...
  29. K

    I CM frame kinetic energy for a molecule

    Hello! When the kinetic energy of a molecule is written in its CM frame we get the formula attached. The first term is the kinetic energy of the CM frame with respect to the lab frame, the second term is the kinetic energy associated with the distance between the nuclei and the last term is the...
  30. J

    What is the kinetic energy when an object reaches escape velocity?

    What is the kinetic energy equal to during the escape velocity? Henceforth, what is exactly happening at the escape velocity in terms of gravity?
  31. F

    Magnetic Bottle and the Kinetic Energy of a Charged Particle

    Hello, When a charged particle is inside a magnetic bottle at the right speed, the particle bounces back and forth and is confined inside the magnetic field. The magnetic force does not work on the particle hence the particle's kinetic energy remains constant. That means that the particle may...
  32. M

    Kinetic energy of a disk that is rolling and not slipping

    Let ##\Theta## be the angle, following the movement of the center of the disk. In order to find the kinetic energy, we brake the movement of the disk into 2: The translation of the center of mass, and the rotation of the disk around it. So, the kinetic energy will be given by: $$T= \frac 1 2...
  33. jamiebean

    Kinetic force/force/tilted plane question

    kinetic friction coefficient=tan(angle) kinetic friction force= tan(angle)x mass x g(9.8) by these 2 equations, I calculated kinetic friction equation=39.236N by f=ma, f= 24.7kg x 8.5ms-2 =209.95N so the force required should be 209.95+ 39.236N=249.1863? Im not sure, are there any other...
  34. T

    I Maxwell kinetic energy distribution

    Hello. I need some guidance on how to find the fraction of molecules with KE between K1 and K2 from the Maxwell kinetic energy distribution function. Here's an link to an earlier post where the speed distribution was integrated, how will I proceed with the kinetic energy distribution...
  35. Leo Liu

    Is Kinetic Friction a Conservative Force?

    If a block slides down an inclined surface under the presence of the kinetic friction, does that mean the total energy lost by the block is equal to the work done by the kinetic friction? Thanks in advance.
  36. T

    Maxwell Kinetic Energy Distribution

    I want to calculate the kinetic energy distribution amongst let's say nitrogen molecules by using M.K.E.D, but not sure where to start. I posted a picturefrom my physics book where the formula is shown, there was no example in the book. As for g(K), is K the same as the kinetic energy formula...
  37. F

    Rotational Kinetic Energy discrepancy

    I was going over the rolling disk versus rolling hoop problem, in which the hoop has more Kr due to greater I and therefore smaller Kt and v. I know this can be algebraically proved with two unique expressions for V that don't involve omega. The question in class that came up concerns torque. If...
  38. Like Tony Stark

    Kinetic energy and momentum in circular paths

    I have some doubts about ballistic pendulums. First, we say that if a bullet hits the pendulum, the linear momentum is conserved. But when we consider a rod attached to a pivot at one of its ends instead of a pendulum we say that the linear momentum isn't conserved because the rod can't move...
  39. kaloyan

    Kinetic energy of a ball rolling down a ramp

    Consider the situation in the attached photo. The kinetic energy in A is 10 J, in B is 30 J. What is the kinetic energy in C? Using that the mechanical energy is the sum of potential energy ##(E_p=mgh)## and kinetic energy ##(E_k=\dfrac{mv^2}{2})##, we get that the mechanical energies in...
  40. A

    B Kinetic Energy of an Object Falling Into an Event Horizon

    Hi, When objects fall in a gravitational field, they convert gravitational potential energy into kinetic energy. Because energy is always conserved: amount of kinetic energy gained = amount of gravitational potential energy lost. Now the gravitational energy lost should be equal to the amount...
  41. A

    On the width of the kinetic energy distribution of a gas

    In these lecture notes about statistical mechanics, page ##10##, we can see the graph below. It represents the distribution (probability density function) of the kinetic energy ##E## (a random variable) of all the gas particles (i.e., ##E=\sum_{i}^{N} E_{i}##, where ##E_{i}## (also a random...
  42. Thijske

    Kinetic friction coefficient of aluminum on lubricated cast iron

    Hey all, I was recently searching for kinetic friction coefficients, and I noticed that for a reason which is unknown to me, some materials had not been appointed such coefficient. The specific kinetic friction coefficient that I'm looking for is aluminum on greasy/lubricated cast iron. Any type...
  43. Kaushik

    ##v_{rms}## in the Kinetic Theory Of Gases

    In Kinetic theory of gases, what is the reason behind introducing a new kind of average known as root mean square velocity (##v_{rms}##)? I read the following: The molecules in a container are in constant random motion. So when we add all the velocity vectors to find the average it cancels out...
  44. B

    Is the Loss of Kinetic Energy Related to the Volume of a Copper Atom?

    Unsure on whether I have done part d) right for this question Here is what I have done already: Any help would be great! Thanks
  45. EchoRush

    Deriving the kinetic energy equation?

    Hello, I just have a quick question on deriving the kinetic energy formula using calculus. I understand most of it, I just have a question about one of the steps. here are the steps. Begin with the Work-Energy Theorem.The work that is done on an object is related to the change in its kinetic...
  46. eyespy

    Solving the Platform and Object Kinetic Energy Equation

    Homework Statement:: Consider a platform (mass: M) which horizontal surface AB s smoothly joined to vertical surface CD as shown in the figure below. Initially, the platform is fixed in place on a horizontal floor. A small object (mass: m) is placed on AB and given an initial speed of v in the...
  47. Ssnow

    Relations on the Kinetic velocities in a cyclic reaction

    Hi to all, I whant to ask a question about theoretical chemistry. Let us consider a cyclic reaction ##\alpha A\rightarrow \beta B\rightarrow \gamma C\rightarrow \alpha A## where ##\alpha,\beta;\gamma## are the stochiometric coefficients and ##A,B,C## chemical molecules ... there are relations...
  48. tanaygupta2000

    Why Does the Kinetic Energy Formula for Ag Atoms Use 2kT Instead of (3/2)kT?

    It says that for Ag atoms, from Kinetic Theory, the velocity vx of an atom of mass M is evaluated by setting (1/2)M(vx)^2 = 2kT This is my confusion. What I have studied is that it should be equal to (3/2)kT instead of 2kT.
  49. Kharrid

    Kinetic Energy of Colliding Protons

    Summary: Finding the KE of a two proton collision that creates Kaons. Given the rest KE of protons and kaons, what is the minimum KE of one proton that can create the two kaons. In high-energy physics, new particles can be created by collisions of fast-moving projectile particles with...
  50. U

    Catapult spring, Kinetic and Potential energy

    My solutions: When ball is launched horizontally, assuming its velocity is entirely in the horizontal dimension, there is no interaction of the ball with the gravitational field, thus no change in GPE, so all of the EPE (elastic potential energy ) of the spring is transferred to KE of the ball...
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