Lesson: Kinetic Energy Physics • 9th Grade

In this lesson, we will learn how to calculate the kinetic energy of objects of different masses, moving at different velocities.

Lesson Plan

Students will be able to

use the formula KE = in all combinations,
recognize that all moving objects have kinetic energy,
recognize that KE is proportional to mass but not to velocity, such that changes in velocity are more significant than changes in mass in terms of the resulting change in kinetic energy.

Lesson Presentation

Lesson Video

Lesson Explainer

Lesson Worksheet

Q1:

How many times larger is the kinetic energy of a bullet of mass 0.005 kg that has a velocity of 500 m/s than the kinetic energy of a drone with a mass of 5 kg and a velocity of 5 m/s?

Q2:

A motorboat at rest on a lake has a mass of 665 kg. The motorboat then accelerates until it has a kinetic energy of 340,480 J. When the motorboat has accelerated, at what rate does it move toward a stationary boat that is directly in front of it?

Q3:

A hummingbird has a mass of 40 g. The hummingbird flies in a straight line between two flowers 18 m apart in a time of 12 s. What is the average kinetic energy of the hummingbird while flying between the flowers?