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For an object of mass m moving at speed v, how is its translational kinetic energy defined?
AKE equals m times v, nothing more
BKE equals m times v squared exactly
CKE equals one half times m times v squared
DKE equals one half times m times v
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: C. KE equals one half times m times v squared
1. Translational kinetic energy is defined as KE = one half m v squared.
2. This form falls directly out of the work-energy theorem, where net work equals one half m v squared minus one half m v0 squared.
3. Leaving out the one half factor, or using v instead of v squared, does not match the definition that comes from that derivation.
4. KE = m times v is instead the formula for linear momentum, a different quantity entirely.
_Source: OpenStax College Physics (CC BY 4.0), Ch 7 "Work, Energy, and Energy Resources", section 7.2 Kinetic Energy and the Work-Energy Theorem_
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