what is the difference between potential and kinetic energy?
What is the difference between potential and kinetic energy?
Answer:
Potential energy and kinetic energy are two forms of energy that an object can possess. The main difference between potential and kinetic energy lies in their definitions and the state of the object.
Potential Energy:
Potential energy is the energy that an object possesses due to its position or state. It is often associated with the potential for movement. There are various forms of potential energy such as gravitational potential energy, elastic potential energy, chemical potential energy, etc. For example, a stretched spring has elastic potential energy, and an object held above the ground has gravitational potential energy. The formula for gravitational potential energy is PE = mgh, where m is the mass of the object, g is the acceleration due to gravity, and h is the height of the object.
Kinetic Energy:
Kinetic energy, on the other hand, is the energy an object possesses due to its motion. The faster an object moves, the more kinetic energy it has. The formula for kinetic energy is KE = \frac{1}{2}mv^2, where m is the mass of the object and v is the velocity of the object.
In summary, potential energy is stored energy that depends on the position or state of an object, whereas kinetic energy is the energy of motion. When an object is stationary, it has potential energy, and when it is in motion, it has kinetic energy.