{
  "slug": "kinetic-energy",
  "title": "Kinetic Energy Calculator",
  "heading": "Kinetic & Potential Energy Calculator",
  "category": "math",
  "url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/kinetic-energy",
  "summary": "Energy of a moving mass, plus stored height energy.",
  "description": "Kinetic energy scales with the square of speed — double the speed, quadruple the energy. That's why crash forces climb so fast.",
  "formula": "KE = ½mv²; PE = mgh",
  "dateModified": "2026-09-30",
  "run_url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/api/public/calc?tool=kinetic-energy",
  "inputs": [
    {
      "id": "mass",
      "label": "Mass",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 1500,
      "unit": "kg",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "speed",
      "label": "Speed",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 20,
      "unit": "m/s",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "height",
      "label": "Height",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 0,
      "unit": "m",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    }
  ],
  "outputs": [
    {
      "id": "ke",
      "label": "Kinetic energy (J)",
      "format": "decimal",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": true
    },
    {
      "id": "kj",
      "label": "Kinetic energy (kJ)",
      "format": "decimal",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "pe",
      "label": "Potential energy (J)",
      "format": "decimal",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "total",
      "label": "Total mechanical energy (J)",
      "format": "decimal",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    }
  ],
  "worked_example": {
    "inputs": [
      "Mass: 1500 kg",
      "Speed: 20 m/s",
      "Height: 0 m"
    ],
    "outputs": [
      "Kinetic energy (J): 300,000",
      "Kinetic energy (kJ): 300",
      "Potential energy (J): 0",
      "Total mechanical energy (J): 300,000"
    ]
  },
  "how_to": {
    "title": "How to use this",
    "steps": [
      "Enter mass (kg).",
      "Enter speed (m/s).",
      "Enter height (m).",
      "Read your kinetic energy (j) on the right — it updates as you type.",
      "Hit Share to keep the scenario or send it to someone."
    ]
  },
  "scenarios": [
    {
      "name": "Conservative",
      "description": "Lower-end numbers — what if things land soft?",
      "values": {
        "mass": 900,
        "speed": 12,
        "height": 0
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Typical",
      "description": "Defaults — the most common real-world setup.",
      "values": {
        "mass": 1500,
        "speed": 20,
        "height": 0
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Ambitious",
      "description": "Higher-end numbers — what if things really pop?",
      "values": {
        "mass": 2400,
        "speed": 32,
        "height": 0
      }
    }
  ],
  "limitations": [
    "Results are rounded for display; the underlying calculation keeps full precision.",
    "Very large or very small inputs may hit floating-point limits in the browser.",
    "Inputs outside the accepted range are clamped rather than rejected."
  ],
  "faq": [
    {
      "q": "How does the kinetic & potential energy calculator work?",
      "a": "Kinetic energy scales with the square of speed — double the speed, quadruple the energy. That's why crash forces climb so fast. The underlying maths is: KE = ½mv²; PE = mgh"
    },
    {
      "q": "What do I need to enter?",
      "a": "3 values: mass, speed, and height. Each field starts with a sensible default, so you can change one number at a time and watch the result move."
    },
    {
      "q": "What does the kinetic energy (j) result mean?",
      "a": "It is returned as a decimal number and updates live as you edit the inputs, so you can compare two or three versions of a scenario in a few seconds."
    },
    {
      "q": "Is this calculator free, and do I need an account?",
      "a": "Yes, it's free, and no account is required. Nothing you type is stored on our servers — the maths runs entirely in your browser."
    },
    {
      "q": "How accurate is the result?",
      "a": "It applies the standard formula exactly, so the arithmetic is precise. Results are rounded for display; the underlying calculation keeps full precision."
    },
    {
      "q": "Who is this tool for?",
      "a": "It's built for students, developers, and anyone who needs the answer right now without setting up a spreadsheet."
    }
  ],
  "related": [],
  "license": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "citation": "RevenueLab — Kinetic Energy Calculator (https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/kinetic-energy)"
}