Why is kinetic energy never negative?

A few decades ago, this would seem a silly question. The kinetic energy of an object is classically defined as [math]KE = \frac {1}{2} mv^2[/math]. [math]m[/math] is the mass of the object. read more

Classically, the kinetic energy is [math]mv^2/2[/math], whereas in more general special relativity it is [math](\gamma - 1 ) mc^2[/math] — therefore as a macroscopic parameter of motion, the kinetic energy is always non-negative. read more

Kinetic energy is either zero or positive, never negative. This is because kinetic energy is defined as half an objects' mass multiplied by the square of its velocity. Since mass is a measure of matter, it can never be negative, and since velocity is squared, it is always positive. read more

Kinetic Energy is never negative. If a Particle is bound in some kind of potential its TOTAL ENERGY is negative (this is characteristic of a bound system, classical or quantum), but its KINETIC ENERGY is still positive. read more