Energy and momentum

Kinetic energy, potential energy and momentum of a moving mass.

Inputs

Mass

Speed

Height above reference

Result

Kinetic energy

640

Potential energy (relative to reference height): 0
Momentum: 280

How it’s calculated

Formula

E_k = \tfrac{1}{2} m v^2, \qquad E_p = m g h, \qquad p = m v

With your numbers (converted to SI units)

E_k = \tfrac{1}{2} \times 61.23\,\text{kg} \times (4.572\,\text{m/s})^2 = 640\,\text{J}

E_p = 61.23 \times 9.807 \times 0\,\text{m} = 0\,\text{J}

p = 61.23 \times 4.572 = 280\,\text{kg·m/s}

What it means

Kinetic energy grows with the square of speed, so a robot at full speed carries four times the energy it has at half speed: that energy goes into bumpers, frames and other robots in a collision. Momentum is what has to be stopped or transferred.

Assumptions

Translation only; spinning parts such as flywheels store extra energy on top of this.

Learn the concepts behind this on resources.simbotics.org · All formulas