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Kinetic Energy Calculator

Kinetic Energy Calculator is part of Toolspire and is ready as soon as this page loads. Mass is kilograms and speed is metres per second if you want joules. The page squares the speed, so doubling speed quadruples the energy.

Runs in this tabFreeNo account

On this page

What you can do here

Translation only

Spinning energy, ½ I ω², is not added.

The square is the point

The detail repeats v² so a forgotten square is visible: 3² is 9, not 3.

Joules if the units match

Grams and kilometres per hour will not come out in joules. Convert first.

The sequence

How to use the Kinetic Energy Calculator

  1. 1

    Convert to kilograms and m/s for joules

    A 2000 g mass is 2 kg. 10.8 km/h is 3 m/s.

  2. 2

    Check 9

    Half of 2 times 9.

  3. 3

    Expect four times the energy at twice the speed

    3 m/s to 6 m/s goes from 9 J to 36 J for a 2 kg mass.

Worth knowing

  • Kinetic Energy Calculator on Toolspire: KE = ½ m v².
  • ½ × 2 × 9 = 9 J when the units are kilograms and metres per second.
  • Doubling speed multiplies energy by 4, because the speed is squared.
  • A negative speed is treated as a direction. The square removes the sign.

Speed is squared, mass is not

Translational kinetic energy is one half the mass times the square of the speed. Two kilograms at three metres per second: the square is 9, half of 2 is 1, and 1 × 9 is 9 joules. Doubling the mass doubles the energy. Doubling the speed quadruples it. Rotational energy needs a moment of inertia and an angular speed, which this page does not ask for.

FAQ

Questions about Kinetic Energy Calculator

Where does Kinetic Energy Calculator run?

Kinetic Energy Calculator runs in this tab on Toolspire. What you type or drop in is not sent to us and is not stored on a server.

What is the kinetic energy of 2 kg at 3 m/s?

9 joules.

What happens if the speed doubles?

Energy becomes 36 joules for the same 2 kg. The square turns a factor of 2 into a factor of 4.

Do I type grams?

Only if you do not want joules. For joules, use kilograms and metres per second.

Does direction matter?

Not to the energy. A negative speed is squared away.

Keep going

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