What is the difference between kinetic and potential energy in physics?

Answer 1

Hello, thank you for taking the time to post your question!

Kinetic energy refers to the energy of moving … so anything that is moving like a car driving down the highway or a running person possesses kinetic energy. It’s value is dependent on the mass and speed of the moving object … KE = ½*m*v^2

Potential energy then is stored energy that has the potential to be converted into kinetic energy. A great example would be a roller coaster at the top of the first climb about to descend or something like a rubber band or spring that has been stretched or compressed.

I hope that helps get you moving in the right direction! Feel free to reach out if you have any additional questions about the process to solve beyond that :)

Answer 2

Kinetic energy is the energy of mass in motion, and so is associated with particles (atoms, molecules, electrons, protons & neutrons).

Potential energy is the energy in the fields surrounding and between interacting particles (Gravitational Field between masses, Electromagnetic Field between charges).

Answer 3

Kinetic energy is the energy of motion — anything that’s moving has it. It depends on the object’s mass and speed, and is calculated by KE = (1/2)mv².

Potential energy is stored energy based on an object’s position or condition. A classic example is a ball held at a height — it has gravitational potential energy, PE = mgh.

When you drop the ball, potential energy is converted into kinetic energy as it falls. Understanding how these forms of energy convert into each other is key in solving problems related to motion, pendulums, or roller coasters.

Let me know if you want help applying this in real problems — I’d be happy to walk you through examples!