Kinetic and Potential Energy

Kinetic and potential energy

Types of energy that explain how forces cause injury in trauma situations.

Energy and injury severity

The energy available to cause injury doubles when an object’s weight doubles and quadruples when its speed doubles.

Velocity vs mass

The speed of a high-velocity bullet has a greater effect on injury severity than the mass (size) of the bullet.

Kinetic energy and injury severity

The amount of kinetic energy converted to work on the body determines how severe an injury is.

High-energy injuries

Often cause severe damage and require immediate transport to an appropriate medical facility for survival.

Potential energy

Energy determined by mass (weight), gravity, and height.

Potential energy and falls

Potential energy is most commonly associated with the energy of falling objects.