No, speed and velocity cannot be interchanged in the kinetic energy formula. The kinetic energy formula is defined in terms of mass and velocity, not speed.
The kinetic energy (KE) of an object is given by the equation:
KE = (1/2) * m * v^2
where:
- KE is the kinetic energy of the object,
- m is the mass of the object,
- v is the velocity of the object.
Velocity is a vector quantity that includes both the magnitude (speed) and direction. On the other hand, speed is a scalar quantity that represents only the magnitude of velocity. Since kinetic energy depends on the square of velocity (v^2), which takes into account both speed and direction, it is important to use the velocity rather than just the speed in the kinetic energy formula.