Key Term: KE = 1/2mv^2
Definition
Definition: Kinetic energy is the energy possessed by an object due to its motion. It depends on both the mass and velocity of the object.
Analogy
Analogy: Imagine a soccer ball rolling down a hill. The faster it rolls (higher velocity) and the heavier it is (greater mass), the more kinetic energy it has. Just like how a fast-moving, heavy soccer ball can cause more damage when it hits something, objects with higher kinetic energy can have a greater impact.
Related terms
Potential Energy: The stored energy that an object possesses based on its position or condition.
Work-Energy Theorem: States that the work done on an object is equal to the change in its kinetic energy.
Conservation of Energy: The principle that states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transferred or transformed between different forms.
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