A 10 Kg dog runs at 2m/s. Find its KE
KE = mv2/2 = 10Kg*(2m/s)2/2 = 20Joules
The dog speeds up to 4m/s. Find its KE
KE = 10Kg*(4m/s)2/2
= 80Joules
NOTE: The mass remained the same,
the velocity only doubled, yet the KE rose !
Notice that "v" is squared in the equation. This is why car
stopping distances become so great at higher speeds. A car going
60mi/hr has 4X the KE as when it goes 30mi/hr, so it takes four times the
distance to stop! Many people think that if you double "v" you only double
stopping distance..
If mass doubles and v is held constant, KE doubles.