How are potential energy and kinetic energy similar? How are they different. Thank you
kinetic energy is moving energy, or the energy possessed by an object in motion.
potential energy is the the energy possessed by an object during rest.
Similarity Think of a roller coaster. The chain pulls the rollercoaster full of people up the hill to the top. On the way up the potential energy the roller coaster has grows. At the top the potential energy stops increasing. Once the roller coaster starts down the hill, the potential energy decreases rapidly and the kinetic energy increases.
Think of potential energy as stored energy unused and kinetic energy as energy being used or consumed. Hope this helps