AFOQT Practice Test

What is kinetic energy primarily associated with?

1. The position of an object

2. The gravitational force on an object

3. The motion of an object

4. The chemical bonds of a substance

The correct answer is: The motion of an object

Kinetic energy is primarily associated with the motion of an object. It is defined as the energy that an object possesses due to its motion, which depends on both its mass and velocity. The formula for kinetic energy is given by \( KE = \frac{1}{2} mv^2 \), where \( m \) represents the mass of the object and \( v \) is its velocity. As an object's speed increases or as its mass increases, its kinetic energy also increases. This concept is fundamental in physics and applies to a wide range of scenarios, from moving vehicles to flowing rivers, where the motion directly relates to the energy possessed by the system.