HOW DOES KINETIC ENERGY DEPEND ON MASS?
Kinetic energy is the energy possessed by an object due to its motion. The relationship between kinetic energy and mass can be understood by considering the equation:
Kinetic Energy (KE) = 1/2 * mass (m) * velocity squared (v^2)
From this equation, it is clear that kinetic energy depends on both mass and velocity. However, the dependence on mass is linear, which means that the kinetic energy increases directly with an increase in mass.
To understand why this is the case, let's break it down:
1. The equation tells us that the kinetic energy is directly proportional to the mass. This means that if the mass doubles (for example, if you use an object with twice the mass), the kinetic energy will also double. Similarly, if the mass is halved, the kinetic energy will be halved.
2. The velocity squared term shows that the kinetic energy is dependent on the square of the velocity. If the velocity doubles, the kinetic energy will increase by a factor of four (2^2 = 4). Likewise, if the velocity is halved, the kinetic energy will decrease to one-fourth of its original value.
So, while both mass and velocity affect the kinetic energy, the mass has a linear relationship with the kinetic energy, whereas the velocity has a more significant impact as it is squared.
In summary, kinetic energy depends on mass in a linear manner. Increasing the mass will result in a proportional increase in kinetic energy, while decreasing the mass will lead to a decrease in kinetic energy, assuming the velocity remains constant.