Kinetic and Potential Energy

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What is kinetic energy?

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Kinetic energy is the energy an object possesses due to its motion. It depends on the mass of the object and the speed at which it is moving.

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What is potential energy?

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

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How does speed affect kinetic energy?

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The faster an object moves, the more kinetic energy it has. Kinetic energy increases with the square of the speed.

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What is the formula for kinetic energy?

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The formula for kinetic energy (KE) is KE = 1/2 mv², where m is mass and v is velocity.

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What is the formula for potential energy?

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The formula for gravitational potential energy (PE) is PE = mgh, where m is mass, g is the acceleration due to gravity, and h is height.

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What is the law of conservation of energy?

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The law of conservation of energy states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed from one form to another.

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What happens to potential energy as an object falls?

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As an object falls, its potential energy decreases while its kinetic energy increases, keeping the total mechanical energy constant (in the absence of air resistance).

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What is an example of kinetic energy in everyday life?

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An example of kinetic energy is a moving car. The faster the car moves, the more kinetic energy it has.

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What is an example of potential energy in everyday life?

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An example of potential energy is a stretched rubber band. It has stored energy that can be released when the band is let go.

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What is the relationship between mass and kinetic energy?

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Kinetic energy is directly proportional to the mass of the object. If the mass increases, the kinetic energy increases, assuming speed remains constant.

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