The Definition of Kinetic Energy

Newton's cradle toy
Newton's cradle is a classic toy that shows kinetic and potential energy as well as conservation of energy. Influx Productions/Getty Images
By
Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D.
Chemistry Expert
  • Ph.D., Biomedical Sciences, University of Tennessee at Knoxville
  • B.A., Physics and Mathematics, Hastings College
Dr. Helmenstine holds a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences and is a science writer, educator, and consultant. She has taught science courses at the high school, college, and graduate levels.
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Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D.
Updated February 04, 2019

Kinetic energy is the energy an object possesses due to its motion. An object of mass m moving at velocity v has a kinetic energy equal to ½mv2.

Example

An example of kinetic energy is a swinging pendulum.

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Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. "The Definition of Kinetic Energy." ThoughtCo, Aug. 25, 2020, thoughtco.com/definition-of-kinetic-energy-604552. Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. (2020, August 25). The Definition of Kinetic Energy. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/definition-of-kinetic-energy-604552 Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. "The Definition of Kinetic Energy." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/definition-of-kinetic-energy-604552 (accessed April 21, 2021).