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GCSE Combined Science · key term
The energy an object or particle has because it is moving.
Used by AQA and Edexcel
Specification 6.1.1.2, 6.3.3.1, 6.5.4.3.4 · Paper 5, Paper 6
The energy stored by an object because it is moving.
Revise: Calculating Energy ChangesKinetic energy is the energy stored by an object because it is moving.
Energy stored by a moving object. It depends on its mass and the square of its speed: .
Paper 5, Paper 6
Energy associated with the motion of an object.
Revise: Energy stores, transfers and conservationIf air resistance is negligible, the decrease in gravitational potential energy equals the increase in kinetic energy. With air resistance, some energy also transfers to thermal stores of the ball and surroundings. The ball gains less kinetic energy, but energy has not disappeared.
The energy an object has because it is moving. It depends on its mass and the square of its speed.
Only equate the decrease in gravitational potential energy to the increase in kinetic energy when other energy transfers can be neglected.
For a temperature–pressure explanation, link higher temperature → greater average kinetic energy → faster molecules → more frequent collisions with the walls → greater pressure.
Use ‘average kinetic energy’: the molecules do not all have the same speed.
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