What is the difference between kinetic and potential energy?

Kinetic energy is the energy of motion, while potential energy is the energy stored in an object.

Kinetic energy is the energy an object possesses due to its motion. It depends on the mass and velocity of the object. The formula for kinetic energy is KE = 1/2mv^2, where m is the mass of the object and v is its velocity. Kinetic energy is a scalar quantity, meaning it has only magnitude and no direction.

Potential energy is the energy stored in an object due to its position or configuration. It is the energy an object has because of its potential to do work. There are different types of potential energy, such as gravitational potential energy, elastic potential energy, and electric potential energy. Gravitational potential energy is the energy an object has due to its position in a gravitational field. Elastic potential energy is the energy stored in a stretched or compressed spring. Electric potential energy is the energy stored in an electric field due to the position of charged particles.

The formula for gravitational potential energy is PE = mgh, where m is the mass of the object, g is the acceleration due to gravity, and h is the height of the object above a reference point. Potential energy is also a scalar quantity.

In summary, kinetic energy is the energy of motion, while potential energy is the energy stored in an object due to its position or configuration. Both types of energy are important in understanding the behaviour of physical systems.