In physics, there are two types of energy that are often talked about: potential energy and kinetic energy. But what is the difference between these two types of energy? And how can you tell which one is which?
In this article, we’ll answer all your questions about potential and kinetic energy. We’ll give you examples of each type of energy, and we’ll explain how they’re different. So read on to learn everything you need to know about potential and kinetic energy!
What is the difference between potential energy and kinetic energy?
Potential energy is the stored energy in any object or system by virtue of its position or arrangement of parts. However, it isn’t affected by the environment outside of the object or system, such as air or height.
On the other hand, kinetic energy is the energy of an object or a system’s particles in motion. Kinetic energy is affected by both the mass of the object and its velocity. The heavier an object is, the more kinetic energy it has. The faster an object is moving, the more kinetic energy it has.
There are many forms of potential energy, including:
- Chemical potential energy – stored in atoms and molecules
- Gravitational potential energy – stored in objects based on their height in relation to the Earth’s surface
- Elastic potential energy – stored in objects that can be stretched or compressed, like a rubber band
Kinetic energy can also be classified into two types:
- Thermal kinetic energy – particles in motion due to heat
- Mechanical kinetic energy – particles in motion due to an applied force
What are 3 differences between potential and kinetic energy?
- Kinetic energy has its determining factors and those are mass and speed or velocity whereas the determining factors of potential energy are height, distance and mass.
- Potential energy is the stored energy in an object, while kinetic energy is the energy that results from movement.
- Objects with more kinetic energy tend to do more damage than those with more potential energy.
What is kinetic energy and potential energy with example?
Kinetic energy is the energy a person or an object has due to its motion — in this example, the falling apple. A parked bike on top of a hill has potential energy, which becomes kinetic energy once you start riding it downhill. Both of these energies are measured in joules.
Kinetic energy is the energy of motion. An object that has kinetic energy is moving. It might be moving its components parts—for example, the atoms inside it—or all of itself. Anybody who’s ever seen a soccer ball knows that it has kinetic energy because it’s constantly moving, rolling, and bouncing.
Potential energy, on the other hand, is stored energy. An object that has potential energy doesn’t have to be moving. It could be sitting still, like a rock on the edge of a cliff. It only has to have the ability to move. The rock has the potential to fall off the cliff and crash to the ground below because of gravity.
What is potential energy in simple words?
Potential energy is the energy that an object has because of its position.
For example, a rock at the top of a cliff has gravitational potential energy. This is because the position of the rock gives it the potential to fall.
The amount of potential energy an object has depends on two things:
- The height of the object
- The strength of the force
Gravitational potential energy is the type of potential energy that most people are familiar with. But there are other types of potential energy, too. For example, a stretched rubber band has chemical potential energy. This is because the position of the atoms in the rubber band gives it the potential to change.
What are 2 examples of potential energy
1. Kinetic Energy
2. Elastic Potential Energy
Kinetic energy is the energy of motion. An object has kinetic energy when it is in motion. The more mass an object has, the more kinetic energy it has. The faster an object moves, the more kinetic energy it has.
For example, a car moving at a high speed has more kinetic energy than a car moving at a low speed.
Elastic potential energy is the energy that is stored in an object that can be stretched or compressed. When an object is stretched or compressed, the molecules in the object are pulled apart or pushed together. This creates potential energy in the object.
For example, a rubber band has elastic potential energy when it is stretched.
What is kinetic energy in simple words?
Kinetic energy is the energy an object has because of its motion. If we want to accelerate an object, then we must apply a force. Applying a force requires us to do work. After work has been done, energy has been transferred to the object, and the object will be moving with a new constant speed.
The amount of kinetic energy that an object has depends on two things: its mass and its velocity. The more mass an object has, the more kinetic energy it has. The faster an object is moving, the more kinetic energy it has. You can think of kinetic energy as the energy of motion.
There are two types of kinetic energy: translational and rotational. Translational kinetic energy is the kind of kinetic energy that an object has when it is moving in a straight line. Rotational kinetic energy is the kind of kinetic energy that an object has when it is spinning about an axis.
In short, kinetic energy is the energy that an object has because it is in motion.