# Can the kinetic energy of a system be negative?

## Question:

Can the kinetic energy of a system be negative?

## Kinetic Energy:

{eq}\\ {/eq}

The energy contained in an object by the virtue of its motion is called the kinetic energy of the object. It is the energy required to accelerate an object from the state of rest to its current velocity.

The kinetic energy of an object depends on:

• The mass of the object.
• The velocity of the object.

The kinetic energy, together with the potential energy of the object, is called the 'mechanical energy' of the object.

{eq}\\ {/eq}

The energy possessed by an object due to its motion is called the kinetic energy of the object.

The kinetic energy of an object with mass, {eq}m {/eq}, moving with velocity, {eq}v {/eq}, is given by the equation:

$$K=\dfrac{1}{2}mv^2$$

The mass of an object can never be negative.

Also, the square of the velocity (or any number), can never be negative.

Therefore, the kinetic energy of an object can never be negative.