Rethinking Kinematics: A Unified Energy-Based Framework for Mechanical Systems and Its Ontological Implications

Abstract

This paper proposes a paradigm shift in the analysis of mechanical motion by presenting a unified approach that reinterprets kinematics as a manifestation of energy transformations. Traditional kinematics abstracts motion in terms of space and time without reference to the forces or energies involved. Here, we argue that such abstraction is not only limiting but potentially misleading: motion, velocity, and acceleration are not intrinsic realities but perceptual byproducts of underlying energy dynamics. By expressing kinematical transformations as energy functions, we develop a novel theoretical basis that enables deeper understanding and enhanced design of mechanical systems. This approach redefines the nature of transformations in both time-independent and timedependent systems and offers practical tools for engineers and physicists seeking greater control over energy flow and conversion in motion systems. We also discuss the related ontological physics and its implications in the annexes, and introduce the concept of ongoing process ontology.

Keywords: Energetic Kinematics, Irreversible Systems, Foundations of Mechanics, Non-geometric mechanics, Ongoing Process Ontology