What is the difference between kinetic and potential energy?

Kinetic energy is defined as the energy that an object possesses due to its motion. This type of energy is directly related to the mass of the object and the speed at which it is moving; mathematically, it can be expressed with the formula ( KE = \frac{1}{2}mv^2 ), where ( m ) is mass and ( v ) is velocity. As an object's speed increases, its kinetic energy increases, illustrating the essential characteristic of this form of energy as being dynamic.

On the other hand, potential energy refers to stored energy that is a function of an object's position or state. This energy has the potential to be converted into kinetic energy. Common examples of potential energy include gravitational potential energy, where the energy stored is due to an object's height above the ground, and elastic potential energy, as seen in stretched or compressed springs. The capacity for potential energy to transform into kinetic energy is a fundamental principle in physics, emphasizing that energy is conserved and can change forms.

In contrast to other options, the correct understanding of these energies as motion and position highlights the foundational concepts in the study of mechanics. Other choices, such as relating kinetic energy to heat or potential energy to gravitational energy only, fail to encompass the