Kinetic Energy
Understand the nature
Starter – list the 9 forms of energy
and give an example of each.
of kinetic energy
ALL – Use the equation
to calculate kinetic
energy.
MOST – Establish a
relationship between
kinetic energy and the
height of a ball….
SOME – ……and justify
why this is the case with
relation to the
conservation of energy.
LO: understand the nature of kinetic energy

Kinetic energy

‘Conservation of energy’

Energy can neither be created nor destroyed;

rather, it transforms from one form to another.
LO: understand the nature of kinetic energy

Kinetic energy

All objects that are

moving have kinetic
energy.
LO: understand the nature of kinetic energy

Kinetic energy

KE = ½ x m x v²

• KE = kinetic energy (J)

• m = mass (kg)
• v = velocity (m/s)
LO: understand the nature of kinetic energy

Example 1
A bowling ball has a mass of 2kg and is moving down the
alley with a velocity of 5m/s. What is the kinetic energy
of the ball?

Step 1: KE = ½ x m x v² WRITE DOWN EQUATION

Step 2: KE = ½ x 2 x 5² ADD IN THE VALUES
Step 3: KE = ½ x 2 x 5² SQUARE VELOCITY
Step 4: KE = ½ x 2 x 25 MULTIPLY BY MASS
Step 5: KE = ½ x 50 MULTIPLY BY ½
Step 6: KE = 25 J INCLUDE UNITS
LO: understand the nature of kinetic energy

Example 1
A bowling ball has a mass of 2kg and is moving down the
alley with a velocity of 5m/s. What is the kinetic energy
of the ball?

Step 1:
Step 2:
Step 3:
Step 4:
Step 5:
Step 6:
LO: understand the nature of kinetic energy

Example 2
A brick of mass 1.5 Kg is thrown at a window with a velocity
of 2 m/s. Calculate the kinetic energy the brick has.
LO: understand the nature of kinetic energy

Example 3
A meteorite of mass 300g travels with a velocity of 90 m/s.
Calculate its kinetic energy.
LO: understand the nature of kinetic energy

Example questions
1. What is the equation that is used to calculate the kinetic
energy of an object?
2. Calculate the kinetic energy of a pigeon of mass 400g that
is flying with a velocity of 20m/s.
3. A car of mass 500kg is a moving with a velocity of 10m/s.
It accelerates to a velocity of 15m/s. What is the KE of the
object before and after it accelerates?
4. A sprinter has kinetic energy of 1000J and a mass of 68kg.
How fast is the sprinter running?
5. A ball of mass of 0.5kg is dropped from a height of 2m.
Assuming that all of the GPE is transferred to KE, what
will be the velocity of the ball when it hits the ground?
LO: understand the nature of kinetic energy

Practical – Kinetic energy

Aim: To calculate the kinetic energy of a ball released at
different heights.

Method:
1. Time how long it takes for the ball to move down the
ramp.
2. Calculate the velocity of the ball.
3. Calculate the KE of the ball.
4. Repeat for different release heights.

Hypothesis:
Height Distance Time to Velocity Mass Kinetic Energy
(number of ramp travel (m/s) of ball (J)
of books) (m) down (kg)
ramp (s) KE = ½ x m x v²
0

10

15

20
LO: understand the nature of kinetic energy

Practical – Kinetic energy

Sketch a graph for the investigation.

Write a conclusion stating your results.

LO: understand the nature of kinetic energy

Kinetic Energy
Answer the exam questions.

Use the equation.

Think about ‘conservation of energy’