Kinetic energy (KE) is a way to measure how much energy an object has because it’s moving.

You can find kinetic energy using this simple formula:

$$KE = \frac{1}{2}mv^2$$

Here’s what the letters mean:

• m = mass of the object (how heavy it is, measured in kilograms)
• v = velocity of the object (how fast it’s moving, measured in meters per second)

How Mass Affects Kinetic Energy:

• If you double the mass (m) and keep the speed the same, the kinetic energy also doubles.

• For example, if you have an object that weighs 2 kg and it’s moving at 3 m/s, you can find its kinetic energy like this:

$$KE = \frac{1}{2} \times 2 \times 3^2 = 9 \, \text{Joules}$$

How Velocity Affects Kinetic Energy:

• Kinetic energy is also affected by speed. In fact, it’s related to the square of the speed (that means speed times itself).

• If you double the speed, the kinetic energy increases by four times!

• For instance, if you increase the speed from 3 m/s to 6 m/s while keeping the mass at 2 kg, the kinetic energy calculation is:

$$KE = \frac{1}{2} \times 2 \times 6^2 = 36 \, \text{Joules}$$

So, the heavier the object or the faster it’s going, the more kinetic energy it has!