Kinetic and Potential Energy

Kinetic energy is the energy that an object possesses due to its motion.

Potential energy is the energy stored in an object due to its position or height.

Both potential and kinetic energy are present when a person climbs a ladder.

A moving skateboard possesses kinetic energy.

A person has the minimum gravitational potential energy when they are down in the basement.

Gravitational potential energy (PE) = mass (m) × gravitational acceleration (g) × height (h).

As an object falls, its potential energy decreases while its kinetic energy increases.

Kinetic energy is directly proportional to the square of the speed of an object.

A stretched rubber band has potential energy due to its position.

Kinetic energy increases with the mass of the object; more mass means more kinetic energy at the same speed.