Kinetic energy

Kinetic energy is the energy of motion. An object which has motion - whether it be vertical or horizontal motion - has kinetic energy. There are many forms of kinetic energy - vibrational (the energy due to vibrational motion), rotational (the energy due to rotational motion), and translational (the energy due to motion from one location to another). Kinetic energy is often expressed with the formula

K = ½mv².

All projectile weapons rely on the principles of kinetic energy to some degree.