Question

A 24 kg gazelle runs away from a cheetah going 18 m/s. Calculate the gazelle's kinetic energy

Answer 1

the kinetic energy would 5 miles per hour

Answer 2

How did you get it??

Answer 3

Kinetic energy is defined as:

KE = (1/2) * m * v^2
m is the mass
v is the speed

Answer 4

thank you and how do I get potential energy? @Pompeii00

Answer 5

Potential energy can be defined a couple ways:

(1) If there is constant total energy TE, then potential energy PE is equal to the portion of energy that is not kinetic energy KE. (PE = TE - KE).

(2) Potential energy gravitationally is defined as: PE = m * g * h
m is the mass
g is the gravitational acceleration
h is the height

If you're asking about the potential energy of the gazelle here, then based on the information given the PE would be 0.

Answer 6

what is the difference between gravitational energy and potential gravitational energy?

Answer 7

gravitational energy isn't a type of energy. I was just referring to PE=mgh as specifically being gravitational PE since the height of the object is the reason for the PE. PE can also manifest itself in springs for example. That isn't gravitational PE, just PE (or maybe elastic PE).

Answer 8

oh okay I have one last question, when your done solving for, for example kinetic energy what would be the units if you put units

Answer 9

The units of energy is Joules [ J ].

Joules, written in terms of other units, is [N m] or [kg m^2 / s^2]

Essentially units of force multiplied by units of distance.

Answer 10

would the units for potential energy be joules too?

Answer 11

Yep, all types of energy are measured in Joules.

Answer 12

thanks this was very helpful!

Answer 13

No problem.