Calculate kinetic energy

Calculate translational kinetic energy, gravitational potential energy, and ideal drop speed from mass, speed, and height.

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ToolKinetic Energy Calculator
Input
Output
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Preview

How it works

Kinetic energy is ½mv², gravitational potential energy is mgh, and ideal drop speed is √(2gh). Mass is kilograms, speed metres per second, and energy joules under the stated model.

  • Standard gravity 9.80665 m/s² drives potential-energy and drop-speed outputs.
  • Air, friction, deformation, and rotational losses are omitted.

Worked example

2kg moving at 3 m/s, held 5m up
Shows both energy terms and the speed it would hit the ground at from that height
Input
											Mass kg: 2
Velocity metres per second: 3
Height metres: 5
Output
												Kinetic energy joules: 9
Potential energy joules: 98.066
Drop speed metres per second: 9.903
Drop speed kmh: 35.65

When to use this

Physics exercises compare speed energy, lifting estimates use mgh, and collision lessons compare ideal drop energy.

Edge cases

  • Doubling speed quadruples kinetic energy because velocity is squared.
  • A rolling body has rotational energy absent from the translational formula.
  • Negative height needs a defined reference level to have physical meaning.

References