Kinetic Energy

Kinetic Energy

​Factors Affecting Kinetic Energy

• Mass (m): amount of matter in an object

  • The greater the mass, the higher the kinetic energy, if velocity is constant.

  • Example: A truck vs. a bicycle moving at the same speed.

• Velocity (v): rate at which an object changes it position

  • Velocity has a greater impact because it is squared in the formula.

  • Example: Doubling the velocity quadruples the kinetic energy.

• As the mass increases, the kinetic energy increases. (Linear relationship)

• Mass is on the x-axis. It is the independent variable.

• Kinetic energy is on the y-axis. It is the dependent variable.

​Mass vs Kinetic Energy

• ​X-axis: Velocity (m/s)

• Y-axis: Kinetic Energy (Joules)

• Observation: Exponential relationship—as velocity increases, KE increases rapidly.

​Velocity vs Kinetic Energy