Science Common Sense

1086 - Why does an object's kinetic energy increase when its speed increases?

Imagine you're riding a bicycle. When you pedal faster, you feel like you're moving more energy, right? That's because kinetic energy is the energy of motion.

The reason kinetic energy increases when speed increases is because it depends on how fast the object is moving, and also on its mass (how heavy it is). When you pedal faster on your bike, you're making the bike (and you) move faster. Your legs are using energy to make that happen.

The more speed you gain, the more energy you need to make that happen. That's why kinetic energy increases when speed increases. It's like your energy is growing as you go faster!