Enzyme kinetics is the study of the rates at which enzymes catalyze biochemical reactions. It helps scientists understand how enzymes work, how they interact with substrates, and how various factors like temperature and pH affect their activity. The most common model used in enzyme kinetics is the Michaelis-Menten equation, which describes the relationship between substrate concentration and reaction rate. By analyzing enzyme kinetics, researchers can determine important parameters such as Vmax (the maximum reaction rate) and Km (the substrate concentration at which the reaction rate is half of Vmax). This information is crucial for applications in fields like pharmacology and biotechnology.