kinetic energy (redirected from Kenetic energy)

kinetic energy: see energy.

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kinetic energy

Form of energy that an object has by reason of its motion. The kind of motion may be translation (motion along a path from one place to another), rotation about an axis, vibration, or any combination of motions. The total kinetic energy of a body or system is equal to the sum of the kinetic energies resulting from each type of motion. The kinetic energy of an object depends on its mass and velocity. For instance, the amount of kinetic energy KE of an object in translational motion is equal to one-half the product of its mass m and the square of its velocity v, or KE = ¹⁄₂mv², provided the speed is low relative to the speed of light. At higher speeds, relativity changes the relationship.

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kinetic energy

the energy of motion of a body, equal to the work it would do if it were brought to rest. The translational kinetic energy depends on motion through space, and for a rigid body of constant mass is equal to the product of half the mass times the square of the speed. The rotational kinetic energy depends on rotation about an axis, and for a body of constant moment of inertia is equal to the product of half the moment of inertia times the square of the angular velocity. In relativistic physics kinetic energy is equal to the product of the increase of mass caused by motion times the square of the speed of light. The SI unit is the joule but the electronvolt is often used in atomic physics.

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kinetic energy [kə′ned·ik ′en·ər·jē]

(mechanics)

The energy which a body possesses because of its motion; in classical mechanics, equal to one-half of the body's mass times the square of its speed.