Kinetic Energy

• Define kinetic energy and its relationship with an object's mass and speed.

• Describe the relationship between an object's speed and its kinetic energy.

• Explain the relationship between an object's mass and its kinetic energy.

• Compare the kinetic energy of different objects in real-world examples.

Key Vocabulary

Kinetic Energy

The energy an object has because of its motion, which depends on its mass and speed.

Mass

The measure of how much matter is in an object, a key factor in its kinetic energy.

Speed

The rate at which an object covers distance and a major factor in its kinetic energy.

Directly Proportional

A relationship in which two variables increase or decrease together, such as distance and time at constant speed.

Linear Relationship

A relationship where an increase in one variable results in a steady, proportional increase in another.

The Role of Speed in Kinetic Energy

• When an object's speed increases, its kinetic energy increases.

• When an object's speed decreases, its kinetic energy also decreases.

• A faster car has much more kinetic energy than a slower one.

The Role of Mass in Kinetic Energy

• An object's kinetic energy increases as its mass increases.

• The change from mass is less dramatic than the change from speed.

• A heavier tennis ball has more kinetic energy than a lighter wiffle ball.

• An object's kinetic energy depends on its mass and speed.

• An object's speed has a major effect on its kinetic energy.

• More mass means an object has more kinetic energy.

• To compare kinetic energy, look at both mass and speed.