Kinetic Energy

Kinetic energy represents the energy associated with the motion of an object. It is defined as:

K ≡ mv² / 2 for a point mass and <math> K = {1 \over 2}mV^2 + {1 \over 2} I \omega ^2 </math> for a rigid body, where I is the body's moment of inertia and omega is the body's angular velocity.

The change of kinetic energy is equal to the total work done on it by the resultant of all forces acting on it. For a point mass this can be expressed as:

ΣW = ΔK = mv_f² / 2 - mv_i² / 2

Where v_i is speed at t = 0 and v_f is speed at time = t.

Kinetic energy is a scalar and has the same units as work (i.e. Joule).

Note that if the mass of an object is increased, the increase in kinetic energy increases linearly; if the velocity of an object is increased, the increase in kinetic energy increases exponentially. E.g., doubling the mass of an object doubles its kinetic energy; doubling its velocity quadruples its kinetic energy.