How Do You Calculate the Rest Energy of a Ball?

  • Thread starter Westin
  • Start date
  • Tags
    Physics
In summary, the problem asks for the rest energy of a ball with a mass of 8kg and a velocity of 22.79 m/s. The equation for kinetic energy is K=1/2 mv^2, but since the velocity is in vector form, it is unclear how to proceed. However, it may not be necessary to know the velocity in order to calculate the rest energy.
  • #1
Westin
87
0

Homework Statement



A ball whose mass is 8kg travels at a velocity [PLAIN]https://s3.lite.msu.edu/adm/jsMath/fonts/cmsy10/alpha/144/char68.png22,79,6[PLAIN]https://s3.lite.msu.edu/adm/jsMath/fonts/cmsy10/alpha/144/char69.pngm[PLAIN]https://s3.lite.msu.edu/adm/jsMath/fonts/cmmi10/alpha/144/char3D.pngs. What is the rest energy of the ball?[/B]

Homework Equations



K=1/2 mv^2[/B]

The Attempt at a Solution



K=1/2 (8) v^2

Im not sure what to do with velocity since its in vector form, I tried taking the magnitude of it but that was incorrect.[/B]
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #2
Westin said:

Homework Statement



A ball whose mass is 8kg travels at a velocity [PLAIN]https://s3.lite.msu.edu/adm/jsMath/fonts/cmsy10/alpha/144/char68.png22,79,6[PLAIN]https://s3.lite.msu.edu/adm/jsMath/fonts/cmsy10/alpha/144/char69.pngm[PLAIN]https://s3.lite.msu.edu/adm/jsMath/fonts/cmmi10/alpha/144/char3D.pngs. What is the rest energy of the ball?[/B]

Homework Equations



K=1/2 mv^2[/B]

The Attempt at a Solution



K=1/2 (8) v^2

Im not sure what to do with velocity since its in vector form, I tried taking the magnitude of it but that was incorrect.[/B]

The problem is asking for the 'rest energy' of the ball. I don't think you need to know the velocity of the ball in order to calculate its rest energy.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #3
SteamKing said:
The problem is asking for the 'rest energy' of the ball. I don't think you need to know the velocity of the ball in order to calculate its rest energy.
Unless the mass given is based on the speed given, but it's a speed so subluminal the difference will be minute.
 

Related to How Do You Calculate the Rest Energy of a Ball?

What is the formula for kinetic energy?

The formula for kinetic energy is K=1/2mv^2, where K is the kinetic energy, m is the mass of the object, and v is the velocity of the object.

How do I calculate the kinetic energy of an object?

To calculate the kinetic energy of an object, you need to know the mass of the object and its velocity. Once you have those values, plug them into the formula K=1/2mv^2 and solve for K to get the kinetic energy in joules (J).

Can an object have a negative kinetic energy?

Yes, an object can have a negative kinetic energy. This typically occurs when the object is decelerating or slowing down. In this case, the velocity (v) in the formula K=1/2mv^2 will be negative, resulting in a negative value for kinetic energy.

Does the mass of an object affect its kinetic energy?

Yes, the mass of an object does affect its kinetic energy. The formula K=1/2mv^2 shows that kinetic energy is directly proportional to the mass of an object. This means that as the mass increases, the kinetic energy also increases.

What is the significance of the 1/2 in the formula for kinetic energy?

The 1/2 in the formula K=1/2mv^2 represents a constant and is included to account for the relationship between kinetic energy and velocity. Without this constant, the formula would not accurately represent the amount of kinetic energy an object has.

Similar threads

  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
4
Views
3K
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
3
Views
4K
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
1
Views
1K
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
6
Views
871
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
1
Views
2K
Replies
3
Views
3K
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
5
Views
2K
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
19
Views
4K
Back
Top