Collisions are defined as elastic if they maintain the same kinetic energy, but if it is modified, then the collision is classified as inelastic.
Kinetic energy is, according to those who specialize in issues specific to Physics , the energy that a system or body achieves thanks to its relative movement .
From the theory it is linked to the amount of effort or work that various forces must perform on an element of specific mass to make it go from a state of rest to having a final speed through acceleration . It is interesting, in this framework, to know particularly the first of Newton's laws , a useful principle in classical mechanics that refers to inertia .
Recently, to cite an example that demonstrates one of the many applications of kinetic energy , using a prototype, a small rocket has been launched thanks to a novel system that is characterized by being environmentally friendly and requiring a smaller investment of money. compared to traditional launches to access space. What is the method about? From an earth-based technique that works in a kinetic-electrical way. Likewise, some media reported that a luxurious megayacht powered by the kinetic energy generated by sails was cruising the waters of the Mediterranean , while others spread a novelty associated with electric cars because a charger that has already come to light has come to light. It is powered by kinetic energy .
Kinetic energy and conservation of energy
Kinetic energy and conservation of energy can be calculated and demonstrated.
In the area of relativistic mechanics , the calculation of kinetic energy is done considering that the speed reached by a certain body constitutes a significant portion in relation to the speed of light . Thus, it is possible to deduce that the energy of a certain element can approach infinity if its speed is close to that of light. In this context, the equivalence that involves both mass and energy gains relevance.
Nor should we lose sight of the fact that kinetic energy is approached, interpreted and worked with in multiple systems, also emerging various classifications. It is a great resource and an excellent tool in classical, relativistic and quantum mechanics . In this last branch, where this energy modality is connected to a system of electrons , a distinction is made between the kinetic energy of a rigid solid and that linked to particles . We usually work in different areas, including rotation kinetic energy and translation kinetic energy .
By focusing attention on the law referring to the conservation of energy , meanwhile, it is remembered (or discovered, depending on each case) that whatever the physical system is isolated, its total amount of energy will remain unchanged throughout the period. time, despite the transformations that may result in obtaining a different form with respect to the original energy . In summary: energy is not something that can be erected or destroyed, but it does have the ability to change and mutate. It should be noted that the concept of conservation of energy is the first of the principles that govern thermodynamics .
Both the mass and velocity of a body are taken into account when calculating kinetic energy.
Fundamental notions of physics
In order to understand and apply kinetic energy, it is essential to educate oneself on several fundamental notions of physics .
First of all, it is important to keep in mind that the idea of energy refers to the capacity of a system to do work that involves a transformation (change in temperature, movement, etc.). If there is a different temperature between a pair of bodies, an exchange of energy occurs that is in transit and this transfer is defined by physics experts as heat . The sources capable of generating heat or the mechanisms that produce heat transmission are responsible for thermal energy .
You also have to know what and how potential energy is since the sum of it and kinetic energy accounts for the mechanical energy of a physical system or body. When both the potential and kinetic energies of the tides, waterfalls or a water current are used, on the other hand, hydraulic energy is obtained. A current or mass of air, for its part, causes the wind to be used to use kinetic energy and obtain wind energy . It is even enriching to learn about other energy transformation options and recognize other varieties, since in certain areas we work with geothermal energy , in other spaces chemical energy is prioritized and at a massive level there is demand for electrical energy , to name a few examples. .
With generators capable of transforming the mechanical energy of the turbines, electrical energy can be obtained. It is interesting to know that turbines are useful for propulsion, operation of thermal class engines, hydraulic and wind power.
The movement (that is, the modification of location or position of an object or body in a precise time), the mass (a magnitude that indicates how much matter a body has), the acceleration (indicator of the variation that the speed has in a unit of time), inertia (a property that is observed in bodies and accounts for the intervention of a force to achieve movement or rest), gravity (a phenomenon based on a force exerted by a planet like the Earth, in whose center gravity is null since the forces of attraction are counteracted) and force (a factor capable of changing the movement, rest or shape of an element) are other terms that should be mastered both in theory and in practice. in order to be able to train about the applications and implications of multiple energy modalities.