Kinetic Energy Calculator
Calculate the energy of motion for objects
Kinetic energy is calculated using the formula:
- KE = (1/2) × m × v²
- m = mass in kilograms (kg)
- v = velocity in meters per second (m/s)
- KE = kinetic energy in Joules (J)
- For foot-pound units, multiply Joules by 0.737562149
This calculator handles all necessary unit conversions automatically.
Common Units:
- Mass: Measured in kilograms (kg)
- Velocity: Measured in meters per second (m/s)
- Energy: Measured in Joules (J) or foot-pounds (ft⋅lb)
Key Conversions:
- 1 Joule = 0.737562149 foot-pounds
- 1 kg = 2.20462262 pounds
- 1 m/s = 3.28084 ft/s
Kinetic energy calculations are essential for:
- Vehicle dynamics and transportation
- Sports science and athletics
- Ballistics and projectile motion
- Industrial machinery design
- Energy conservation analysis
- Impact and collision studies
What is kinetic energy?
Kinetic energy is the energy that an object possesses due to its motion. It depends on both the mass of the object and its velocity, with velocity having a squared relationship to the energy.
Why does velocity have a greater effect than mass?
Because velocity is squared in the formula, doubling the velocity quadruples the kinetic energy, while doubling the mass only doubles the energy. This is why high-speed impacts are particularly dangerous.
How is kinetic energy conserved?
In an isolated system, the total kinetic energy remains constant unless acted upon by external forces. During collisions, kinetic energy can be converted to other forms of energy, such as heat or potential energy.