1) Kinetic energy is the energy possessed by an object due to its motion. It is directly proportional to the mass of the object and the square of its velocity. The formula to calculate kinetic energy (KE) is KE = 1/2 mv2, where m represents mass and v represents velocity.
Category/Context
Physics, Physical Chemistry, Mechanics
Related Terms
Potential Energy, Energy Conservation, Mechanical Energy, Momentum, Work
Examples/Applications
Any moving object possesses kinetic energy. For instance, a moving car has kinetic energy which is converted to thermal and sound energy during braking. In chemistry, kinetic energy is essential in understanding the behavior of gas molecules.
Student Level
This definition is suitable for middle school, high school, and undergraduate physics and chemistry students.
Etymology/History
The concept of kinetic energy was primarily developed in the 19th century by physicists and mathematicians such as Gottfried Leibniz and Emilie du Chatelet, among others. source: Kinetic energy | physics. (n.d.). Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/science/kinetic-energy Kinetic Energy. (n.d.). Physics LibreTexts. Retrieved from https://phys.libretexts.org/@go/page/585