Kinetic energy is defined as?

Kinetic energy is fundamentally defined as the energy of an object that is in motion. It is the energy that an object possesses due to its velocity, which allows it to do work on another object when they interact. The formula for kinetic energy (KE) is given by KE = 1/2 mv², where m represents the mass of the object and v represents its velocity. This definition highlights how kinetic energy is directly linked to the motion of an object, differentiating it from other types of energy such as potential energy, which is stored energy.

In the context of different answers, energy stored in an object refers to potential energy, while energy at rest suggests a lack of motion, which does not apply to kinetic energy. Energy lost to friction, although a real phenomenon that can affect kinetic energy, does not define what kinetic energy is. Thus, kinetic energy being the energy in motion that can produce work aligns perfectly with its established definition in physics.