What are the equations for potential and kinetic energy?
The equations for potential and kinetic energy are as follows:
1. Potential Energy (PE):
The potential energy of an object is the energy it possesses due to its position or state. The equation for potential energy is:
PE = m * g * h
where:
- PE is the potential energy
- m is the mass of the object
- g is the acceleration due to gravity (approximately 9.8 m/s^2 on the Earth's surface)
- h is the height or vertical displacement of the object from a reference point
This equation calculates the potential energy based on the object's mass, the acceleration due to gravity, and the height at which it is located.
2. Kinetic Energy (KE):
The kinetic energy of an object is the energy it possesses due to its motion. The equation for kinetic energy is:
KE = 0.5 * m * v^2
where:
- KE is the kinetic energy
- m is the mass of the object
- v is the velocity of the object
This equation calculates the kinetic energy based on the object's mass and its velocity. The velocity is squared, so doubling the velocity will result in a fourfold increase in kinetic energy.