A 20 kg curling stone is sliding in a positive direction at 4 m/s. A second curling stone is sliding at the same speed but in the opposite direction. What is the kinetic energy of the two stones?

The kinetic energy of the two stones is 320 J

Explanation:

Kinetic energy is the energy that a body possesses due to its movement. So it is the capacity or work that allows an object to go from being at rest, or still, to moving at a certain speed.

In other words, the kinetic energy of an object is that which is produced due to its motion and depends on its mass and velocity as follows:

where the kinetic energy Ec is measured in joules (J), the mass m is measured in kilograms (kg) and the velocity v in meters/second (m/s).

In this case you know that a 20 kg curling stone is sliding in a positive direction at 4 m/s. So:

Replacing you have:

Ec₁= 160 J

A second curling stone slides at the same speed but in the opposite direction. So:

Replacing you have:

Ec₂= 160 J

The kinetic energy of the two stones is calculated as:

Ec= Ec₁ + Ec₂

Ec= 160 J + 160 J

Ec= 320 J

The kinetic energy of the two stones is 320 J