Form of energy that an object has by reason of its motion.
The kind of motion may be translation (motion along a path from one place to another), rotation about an axis, vibration, or any combination of motions. The total kinetic energy of a body or system is equal to the sum of the kinetic energies resulting from each type of motion. The kinetic energy of an object depends on its mass and velocity . For instance, the amount of kinetic energy K E of an object in translational motion is equal to one-half the product of its mass m and the square of its velocity v , or K E = 12 m v 2 , provided the speed is low relative to the speed of light. At higher speeds, relativity changes the relationship.