Potential and Kinetic Energy Study Guide

Kinetic energy is the energy an object has due to its motion. The faster an object moves, the more kinetic energy it has.

Potential energy is the stored energy in an object due to its position or state. For example, a rock at the top of a hill has gravitational potential energy.

Elastic potential energy is the energy stored in elastic materials as the result of their stretching or compressing, like a rubber band.

Gravitational potential energy is the energy an object possesses because of its height above the ground. It increases with height.

You can increase the potential energy of an object by raising it to a higher position, such as lifting a ball off the ground.

Kinetic and potential energy are forms of mechanical energy. As an object moves, its energy can convert between kinetic and potential.

A spring scale is a tool used to measure the force exerted on an object, typically in units of weight.

When an object slows down, its kinetic energy decreases because kinetic energy is directly related to the speed of the object.

An example of kinetic energy is a car driving down the road or a child running in a park.

An example of potential energy is a book on a shelf or a drawn bow ready to shoot an arrow.