Kinetic energy is the energy an object possesses due to its motion. It is defined as the energy that an object has because of its motion and is directly proportional to its mass and the square of its velocity.
The kinetic energy of an object depends on two factors:
Mass: The greater the mass of an object, the greater its kinetic energy, assuming the velocity remains constant.
Velocity: The kinetic energy of an object increases significantly with the increase in velocity. Since the kinetic energy is proportional to the square of the velocity, doubling the velocity will quadruple the kinetic energy.
History and Nature of Science: A student should understand the history and nature of science. A student who meets the content standard should:
Develop an understanding that historical perspectives of scientific explanations demonstrate that scientific knowledge changes over time, building on prior knowledge.
Develop an understanding that scientific knowledge is ongoing and subject to change as new evidence becomes available through experimental and/or observational confirmation(s).