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Kinetic and Potential Energy Difference - A Complete Guide

Kinetic and Potential Energy Difference - A Complete Guide

Edited By Vishal kumar | Updated on Sep 24, 2024 05:59 PM IST

In this article we are going to learn about what is kinetic energy and potential energy, kinetic energy and potential energy difference and many more

Potential Energy:

Potential energy is energy that is held in an object that is not moving but has the ability to move.

potential energy in hindi means संभावित ऊर्जा

The energy possessed by an object as a result of its position relative to another body is known as potential energy or PE. PE could also refer to the energy stored in a body as a result of internal stress or electrical charges.

Gravitational potential energy is one of the most frequent types of PE.

In this situation, the amount of PE is determined by the body's mass.

This is the amount of energy necessary to move a body against the earth's gravitational pull.

When a spring is fully expanded, it has energy that is waiting to be released as it returns to its original position.

This has a lot of potential energy as well.

William Rankine, a brilliant physicist, created the term potential energy in the 18th century.

Potential energy is always calculated based on a body's position rather than its movement trajectory.

The mass of an object, its height with relation to another object, and the strength of the gravitational field are all critical factors that influence PE.

Consider a book or a ball of iron resting on a table 2 metres above the ground.

If the identical object were positioned 10 metres above the ground, the object at the higher position would have a higher PE than the object in the lower position.

It's also known as restoring energy because it compels the object to return to its original state of energy.

Work is done against the gravitational pull when an object is elevated from the ground.

This work consumes a lot of energy.

When the thing hits the ground again, the gravitational energy provides energy to the object.

The PE is transformed to another kind of energy while the object falls and moves from its resting point.

PE = mgh is the formula for calculating potential energy,

where m is mass, g is gravity's acceleration, and h is height (or position).

Distinct chemicals have different arrangements of atoms or molecules.

The chemical potential energy of a chemical substance is influenced by the exact arrangement of atoms and molecules to form a structure.

In addition, as chemicals react, energy is converted from one form to another.
When a log of wood burns, for example, the chemical energy is transferred to heat.

An item has electrostatic potential energy and electrodynamic potential energy, both of which are related to electric charge.

Inside the atomic nucleus, there exist particles.

The nuclear potential energy is also present within the particles.

Also read -

Kinetic and Potential Energy Difference - A Complete Guide
Kinetic and Potential Energy Difference - A Complete Guide

Kinetic Energy:

Kinetic is a word that comes from the Greek language.

The Greek term kinesis literally means "to move."

William Thomson was the first to coin this moniker.

As we saw previously, when an object is immobile, it contains potential energy.

When the same thing begins to move, however, Kinetic Energy is released.

While kinetic energy (KE) is the energy possessed by an object due to its motion, kinetic energy (PE) is the energy possessed by a body due to its position.

In other terms, the work required to accelerate a body from rest to a desired velocity is referred to as the object's kinetic energy.

Even particles in motion are subject to this rule.

A person throwing a ball, a speeding train, or a dripping drop of water are all instances of kinetic energy items.

KE is based on two features of the human body.

One represents the object's mass, and the other is the speed at which it moves.

Velocity is the more critical of the two and plays a crucial role in determining energy.

As we saw in PE, there are various forms of KE.

Radiant, thermal, sound, electrical, and mechanical are some of them.

The KE of an object is zero if it is not moving.

KE is calculated using the formula KE=1/2MV2, where M is the body's mass and V is the object's velocity.
For an object to have KE, it must move horizontally or vertically.

The following are some of the most important applications that demonstrate the value of KE:

1. Fuel is burned in automobiles, and the heat energy is turned into motion, which is again Kinetic energy in action.
2. When water is held in hydroelectric facilities, it possesses potential energy. When the water runs down, the PE is transformed to KE, and the KE is converted to electrical energy.
3. The wind rotates the blades of a windmill, and this rotational kinetic energy is transformed to electrical energy.

Also Read:

Difference between kinetic energy and potential energy

kinetic energypotential energy
The energy possessed by an object as a result of its motion is known as KE.PE is the energy that an object has as a result of its position.
It is possible for it to be transferred from one item to another through collisions.

On the other hand, potential energy cannot be transmitted from one item to another.
The measurement of Kinetic Energy takes place at the location where the object is at the time of measurement.
For example, if a ball is flying upwards at 50 m/s and we wish to measure the Kinetic energy at a height of 3 metres above the ground, the measurement is made at that location rather than with reference to another place.
When measuring potential energy, the measurement is made by subtracting the current position from the reference position.
The potential energy of a ball that is 10 metres above the ground and at rest is measured using the ground as a reference.
Kinetic energy is calculated using a formula that includes velocity and is measured as previously stated.

The formula for calculating potential energy is dependent on mass, gravity, and height.
Kinetic Energy is affected by the environment and is dependent on it.

The environment, on the other hand, has no effect on potential energy.
Kinetic Energy is in motion and is not stationary.The position and condition of an object are the sole determinants of potential energy.
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NCERT Physics Notes:

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Difference between kinetic and potential energy


 Kinetic energy

Potential energy

The energy possessed by an object as a result of its motion is known as KE.

PE is the energy that an object has as a result of its position.

It is possible for it to be transferred from one item to another through collisions. 

On the other hand, potential energy cannot be transmitted from one item to another.

The measurement of Kinetic Energy takes place at the location where the object is at the time of measurement.
For example, if a ball is flying upwards at 50 m/s and we wish to measure the Kinetic energy at a height of 3 metres above the ground, the measurement is made at that location rather than with reference to another place.

When measuring potential energy, the measurement is made by subtracting the current position from the reference position.
The potential energy of a ball that is 10 metres above the ground and at rest is measured using the ground as a reference. 

Kinetic energy is calculated using a formula that includes velocity and is measured as previously stated. 

The formula for calculating potential energy is dependent on mass, gravity, and height. 

Kinetic Energy is affected by the environment and is dependent on it. 

The environment, on the other hand, has no effect on potential energy.

Kinetic Energy is in motion and is not stationary. 

The position and condition of an object are the sole determinants of potential energy. 

2. Define kinetic energy and potential energy

Kinetic Energy


The work that an object can accomplish as a result of its mobility is measured by its kinetic energy. 


Kinetic energy is a scalar quantity that can only be defined in terms of magnitude. 


Potential Energy 


The energy stored in an object is referred to as potential energy. 

3. Examples of kinetic energy and potential energy

Examples of Kinetic Energy 

Kinetic energy can be found in everything that has mass (or appears to have mass) and moves. 


Examples of kinetic energy include: 

A superhero, a flying plane, or a bird 


Walking, jogging, bicycling, swimming, dancing, or running are all good ways to get some exercise. 


Dropping a thing or falling down 


Tossing the ball 

Driving a vehicle 


Having fun with a yo-yo 



Example of potential energy include the following: 


An increase in weight 

Water that has been held back by a dam 

A automobile parked at the summit of a hill 

Before it's launched, a yoyo 

Water from a river cascades to the top of a waterfall. 

Before it falls, a book is placed on a table. 

4. Relation between kinetic energy and potential energy

When potential energy is released, it always converts to kinetic energy[4], and kinetic energy is required for an item to store energy as potential in some form. 

A rock on the edge of a cliff, for example, does not require kinetic energy to store the potential energy that will propel it down the cliff face. 

However, kinetic energy is required to get the rock to the edge. 

As a result, the rock requires it in order to maintain its potential energy. 

5. Which form of energy does the flowing water possess?

Kinetic energy is the energy stored as a result of mass motion. 

Water has potential energy while it is at rest. 

However, in a river, the potential energy contained in the water is turned into kinetic energy as the water flows constantly.

As a result, kinetic energy exists in the flowing water of a river. 

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