You are told 3 things…1. There are two objects with equal masses. 2. Both objects are in motion. 3. One object has a greater kinetic energy than the other. How is this possible?
This situation is possible because even though the two objects have equal masses, their velocities might be different. Kinetic energy (KE) depends not only on mass but also on velocity. The formula to calculate kinetic energy is given by KE = (1/2)mv^2, where m is mass and v is velocity.
If one of the objects is moving at a higher velocity compared to the other, it will have a greater kinetic energy. Velocity is a key factor in determining kinetic energy, so even if the masses are equal, the object with a higher velocity will possess more kinetic energy.
In simpler terms, the object moving faster has more energy of motion (kinetic energy) compared to the object moving slower, even though they have the same mass.