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Kinetic Energy and Velocity Calculations

The document outlines an activity focused on understanding velocity and kinetic energy through practical measurement and calculation. Participants are instructed to measure their movements over a distance, calculate their velocity and kinetic energy, and analyze the data in relation to different types of motion. The document also includes warm-up questions and conclusions to reflect on the energy used and the relationship between velocity and kinetic energy.

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moodikar000
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23 views3 pages

Kinetic Energy and Velocity Calculations

The document outlines an activity focused on understanding velocity and kinetic energy through practical measurement and calculation. Participants are instructed to measure their movements over a distance, calculate their velocity and kinetic energy, and analyze the data in relation to different types of motion. The document also includes warm-up questions and conclusions to reflect on the energy used and the relationship between velocity and kinetic energy.

Uploaded by

moodikar000
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Velocity and Motion

Activity:
If you have ever been in a race, you know that not all
people or objects travel at the same velocity (or speed). If
you know the distance traveled by an object and how long
it takes, the velocity of the object can be calculated using
the equation velocity = distance / time. For a given mass,
the kinetic energy of the object in motion can then be
calculated using the equation, KE = ½ mass x velocity2.
The unit for Kinetic Energy is Joules (J).

Warm Up:
1. What is the kinetic energy of a home run baseball that was traveling at 50 meters per
second and has a mass of 0.145 kg?

2. If it took a certain Geography teacher (100 kg) 1800 seconds to run 1600 meters, how much
kinetic energy did the teacher have?

Procedure:
1. Find an open area and measure a length of 10 meters. Use masking tape to mark a starting
line at 0 m and a finish line at 10 m.
2. Perform each movement described on the table, time it, and record in the data table.
3. Repeat step 2 until every group member has been timed performing the movements.
4. Remove tape and return to the classroom.
5. We will all use 50 kg as the approximate mass of each person.
6. Calculate your Velocity (velocity = distance / time)
7. Calculate your Kinetic Energy (KE = ½ mass x velocity2)
8. Collect velocity and kinetic energy data from each group member and plot the kinetic
energy vs. velocity for each movement.

YOUR DATA
Your
Distance Your Time Velocity Mass Kinetic
Motion
(m) (s) (m/s) (kg) Energy
(J)

Walk Heel to
10 50
Toe

Walk Normally 10 50

Run 10 50

1
GROUP MEMBER DATA
Partner Partner Partner
Your Partner Partner Partner
Your 1 2 3
Kinetic 1 2 3
Motion Velocity Kinetic Kinetic Kinetic
Energy Velocity Velocity Velocity
(m/s) Energy Energy Energy
(J) (m/s) (m/s) (m/s)
(J) (J) (J)

Walk Heel
to Toe

Walk
Normally

Run

Plot the Kinetic Energy & Velocity for your and your partner’s collected data.
Color coordinate the points to match the colors on the data table above.

Kinetic Energy vs. Velocity


Kinetic Energy (J)

Velocity (m/s)
2
Conclusions:

1. What type of energy were you using during each movement?

2. Energy cannot be created or destroyed. Where does your body get the energy needed to
transform into kinetic energy to move around all day?

3. Why do you think your results were different for different types of motion?

4. Using your graph above, what is the relationship between velocity and kinetic energy?

5. What would happen to your kinetic energy if the distance traveled increased but your time
stayed the same?

6. What if we repeated the activity while carrying weights but keeping our times the same?
How would velocity and/or kinetic energy be affected?

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