Potential energy is related to the position or configuration of an object, while kinetic energy is related to the motion of an object. Potential energy is stored energy, whereas kinetic energy is energy in motion.
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Potential energy and kinetic energy are distinct forms of mechanical energy in a system. Potential energy is associated with an object’s position or condition and is stored energy ready to be converted into kinetic energy or work. Common types include gravitational potential energy (related to height) and elastic potential energy (related to deformation). In contrast, kinetic energy is the energy of motion, possessed by an object in motion. It is determined by the object’s mass and velocity. The key difference lies in their states: potential energy is stored, while kinetic energy is the energy of movement.
Potential energy is energy stored in an object due to its position or state, such as gravitational, elastic, chemical, or electrical potential energy. Kinetic energy, on the other hand, is the energy an object possesses due to its motion. While potential energy depends on position or state, kinetic energy depends on the object’s velocity and mass.