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Kinetic Energy

AQA AS-level PhysicsWork, Energy and PowerLesson 4 of 21

Kinetic energy is the energy an object has because of its motion. For an object of mass m moving at speed v, Ek = ½mv2, measured in joules.

Diagram

The equation comes from the work done to accelerate the object. A constant force F accelerates a mass from rest over a distance s, so the work done is Fs = mas. Since v2 = 2as for an object starting from rest, the work done is ½mv2, and this is the kinetic energy gained.

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