How to Calculate Kinetic Energy: A Step-by-Step Guide

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To calculate kinetic energy, you can use the following formula:

$KE = \frac{1}{2} m v^2$

where:

• $KE$ is the kinetic energy,
  

  

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• $m$ is the mass of the object,
• $v$ is the velocity of the object.

Steps to Calculate Kinetic Energy:

1. Determine the Mass (m):
   • Measure the mass of the object in kilograms (kg).

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2. Measure the Velocity (v):
   • Measure the velocity of the object in meters per second (m/s).
3. Square the Velocity:
   • Calculate $v^2$ by multiplying the velocity by itself.
4. Multiply by Mass and Divide by 2:
   • Multiply the squared velocity by the mass of the object.
   • Divide the result by 2.

Example Calculation:

Suppose you have an object with a mass of 5 kg moving at a velocity of 10 m/s. To find its kinetic energy:

1. Square the Velocity:
   $v^2 = 10 \, \text{m/s} \times 10 \, \text{m/s} = 100 \, \text{m}^2/\text{s}^2$
2. Multiply by Mass:
   $m \times v^2 = 5 \, \text{kg} \times 100 \, \text{m}^2/\text{s}^2 = 500 \, \text{kg} \cdot \text{m}^2/\text{s}^2$
3. Divide by 2:
   $KE = \frac{500 \, \text{kg} \cdot \text{m}^2/\text{s}^2}{2} = 250 \, \text{J}$

So, the kinetic energy of the object is 250 Joules (J).