whats the difference between kinetic and potential energy?
Physics · High School · Tue Nov 03 2020
Answered on
Kinetic energy is known as the energy in motion. It means that the body is constantly moving at a specific direction in an open plane. The formula for kinetic energy can be illustrated as:
Ke = ½ mv^2
Ke = Kinetic energy
m = mass of an object
v = velocity of an object
Examples of situations that exhibit kinetic energy:
A car travelling from one city to another.
A ball being shot in the air.
Potential energy is known as the energy at rest. This means that the body is not moving, and the only external force affecting the body is gravity. The formula for potential energy can be illustrated as
Pe = mgh
Pe = Potential energy
m = mass of the object
g = acceleration due to gravity (9.8m/s^2)
h = height of the object
Examples of situations that exhibit potential energy:
Ball on top of a table.
Chandelier hanging on the ceiling.