Which has more kinetic energy? A huge skyscraper that is standing still. A tiny grain of sand, blowing in the wind.

Even though a skyscraper is massive, when it’s standing still, it has no kinetic energy since it is not moving. On the other hand, a tiny grain of sand, despite its minuscule size, can acquire kinetic energy when it’s blowing in the wind. Kinetic energy depends on movement; thus, the grain of sand in motion has more kinetic energy than the stationary skyscraper. In physics, the equation for kinetic energy is KE = 1/2 mv², where m is mass and v is velocity. While the skyscraper's mass is immense, its stationary state means its velocity is zero, resulting in zero kinetic energy. In contrast, even a small mass can have significant kinetic energy if it’s moving at a high velocity, showing us how motion trumps size when it comes to energy!