Types of Kinetic Energy

Kinetic energy is the energy-related to motion. This is an energy that a particle or an object has because of its motion. An object speeds up and gains kinetic energy when work is done on an object, and the energy gets transferred to this object, and a net force is applied. The motion may be vibration, rotation about an axis, translation, and motions.

We will discuss different types of kinetic energy that are out there. We will also discuss some characteristics of kinetic energy and how all forms of kinetic energy, including radiant energy, are all around us.

Kinetic energy

The kinetic energy is the energy that it has because of its motion. It is also defined as the work needed to accelerate a body from the stated velocity. A body maintains the kinetic energy, having gained the energy during acceleration unless its speed changes. 

There are different forms of kinetic energy like radiant energy, thermal energy, sound energy, etc. Kinetic energy is a common phenomenon and is all around us. Examples of this energy include a driving car, the wind, satellites orbiting, rocket launches, dropping objects, etc.

Forms of Kinetic energy

1.Mechanical energy

Mechanical energy is the sum of energy of motion or kinetic energy, energy stored in a system because of the position of the parts or the potential energy. This energy is the total kinetic energy and potential energy a body might possess. The total of 2 types of mechanical energy is always the same in a single event.

2.Radiant energy

Radiant energy is a form of physical energy that results from electromagnetic radiation, usually obeyed as the energy radiates from various sources to its surroundings. This energy includes the whole of the electromagnetic radiation spectrum, such as x-rays, gamma rays, microwaves, radio frequencies, heat and light. 

3.Thermal energy

Thermal energy is a type of energy that occurs from a substance whose atoms and molecules vibrate faster because of a temperature rise. The atoms and molecules that form up a matter are always moving. When a substance gets heated, the temperature rises, due to which we see these particles move even faster and bump into each other.

4.Sound energy

Sound means the movement of energy through any substance like water or air and is formed due to vibrations. All materials, gases, liquids, and solids transmit sound energy as waves. Sound energy is produced through the vibrations that move through something. Radiant energy and sound energy are two very common types of energy.

5.Electrical energy

Electric energy is the electrical circuit’s ability to produce work by creating action. These actions can take several forms like electromagnetic, electrical, thermal, mechanical, etc. this energy can be produced from generators, batteries, photovoltaics, and dynamos. This energy can also be stored in batteries, fuel cells, etc. Electrical energy is common energy like radiant energy.

6.Light energy

Light energy is one form of electromagnetic radiation and comprises wavelengths visible to the human eye. This energy consists of particles like photons which have properties like waves. The heating effect produces light energy. Light energy, too, is a common type of energy, just like radiant energy.

Kinetic energy characteristics

The kinetic energy in a moving object can transfer from one body to another and can potentially turn into several energy forms. Another type of energy is mass, as relativity has shown that mass and energy are interchangeable by keeping the constant speed of light.

The two main factors affecting kinetic energy are mass and speed. The kinetic energy will be more if the object is faster. 

• One characteristic of kinetic energy is that kinetic energy must be zero or positive like other types of energy. The three types of kinetic energy are translational kinetic energy, rotational kinetic energy, and vibrational kinetic energy. 
• The translational kinetic energy depends on the object’s motion through space from one point to the other. 
• On the other hand, the rotational kinetic energy depends on the movement centred on an axis. 
• Vibrational kinetic energy is said to be possessed by objects vibrating. The vibration of the objects is what causes vibrational motion. E.g. A phone in vibration mode is an excellent example of vibrational motion.

Conclusion

An object in motion has kinetic energy if the object has motion, whether horizontal or vertical. This article taught us about Kinetic energy and its types, characteristics of kinetic energy, radiant energy, thermal energy, sound energy, electrical energy, and light energy. 

We also learned about translational kinetic energy, rotational kinetic energy, and vibrational kinetic energy. We talked about kinetic energy and how it measures the work done by the object under the motion that it possesses. 

We also discussed how different energies like radiant energy are around us and how important they are for us.