Energy can be defined as kinetic or potential energy. Kinetic energy involves motion. Potential energy involves stored energy. The total energy is just the sum of the kinetic and potential energies. The total kinetic energy and potential energy before a reaction is equal to the total kinetic energy and potential energy after a reaction in the absence of friction. This is known as the conservation of energy principle.
The formula for kinetic energy found at Kinetic Energy, from Wikipedia the free encyclopedia is as follows: KE= ½mv2, KE is kinetic energy, m is mass, and v is velocity. So, if mass increases, then the kinetic energy increases as long as the velocity is not zero. If the velocity of an object increases, then its kinetic energy also increases. Let's say you are playing football, and there are two players running toward you who have exactly the same mass and velocity. Let's also say one of the players is able to double his mass, and the other is able to double his velocity. Who would you rather hit? Well, look at the kinetic energy equation. If you double the mass, then the kinetic energy doubles. If you double the velocity, then you quadruple the kinetic energy. The velocity term is squared in the equation! So, the velocity value is always squared. So, it would be wiser to hit the person who doubled his mass.
The potential energy formula found at Potential Energy, from Wikipedia the free encyclopedia is mgh: where m is mass, g is the acceleration of gravity (9.80665 meters/sec2), and h is height. If the mass of the object is increased, then its potential energy is increased as long as the object has some elevation off the ground. If the height of the object off the ground is increased, then its potential energy is increased.
The formula for kinetic energy found at Kinetic Energy, from Wikipedia the free encyclopedia is as follows: KE= ½mv2, KE is kinetic energy, m is mass, and v is velocity. So, if mass increases, then the kinetic energy increases as long as the velocity is not zero. If the velocity of an object increases, then its kinetic energy also increases. Let's say you are playing football, and there are two players running toward you who have exactly the same mass and velocity. Let's also say one of the players is able to double his mass, and the other is able to double his velocity. Who would you rather hit? Well, look at the kinetic energy equation. If you double the mass, then the kinetic energy doubles. If you double the velocity, then you quadruple the kinetic energy. The velocity term is squared in the equation! So, the velocity value is always squared. So, it would be wiser to hit the person who doubled his mass.
The potential energy formula found at Potential Energy, from Wikipedia the free encyclopedia is mgh: where m is mass, g is the acceleration of gravity (9.80665 meters/sec2), and h is height. If the mass of the object is increased, then its potential energy is increased as long as the object has some elevation off the ground. If the height of the object off the ground is increased, then its potential energy is increased.
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