The physics
Kinetic energy is the energy of motion: half the mass times velocity squared. The squared term is the punchline — double your speed and you carry four times the energy, which must all go somewhere when you stop.
Kinetic energy of a 1,500 kg car at 100 km/h
Answer: kinetic energy = 578,703.7 J (in kilowatt-hours 0.16075 kWh).
What we know
- Mass: 1500 kg
- Velocity: 100 km/h = 27.77777778 m/s (converted to the unit the formula takes)
Step by step
- Given
- m = 1500 kg, v = 27.77777778 m/s
- Formula
- KE = ½ × m × v²
- Substitute
- KE = ½ × 1500 × 27.77777778²
- Result
- KE = 578,703.7 J
All results
| Kinetic energy | 578,703.7 J |
|---|---|
| In kilowatt-hours | 0.16075 kWh |
Open the kinetic energy calculator with these numbers → and change any of them.