Kinetic energy is the energy of motion. It is the energy that an object possesses due to its motion or velocity. The kinetic energy of an object increases as its mass or velocity increases.
For example, when a ball is thrown in the air, it has kinetic energy due to its motion. As the ball rises higher, its velocity decreases, which causes its kinetic energy to decrease as well. When the ball reaches its highest point, its velocity becomes zero, and its kinetic energy is also zero.
Potential energy, on the other hand, is the energy that an object possesses due to its position or state. It is the energy that is stored within an object or a system and has the potential to be converted into other forms of energy. The formula for potential energy is PE = mgh, where PE represents potential energy, m represents the mass of the object, g represents the acceleration due to gravity, and h represents the height of the object.
For example, a ball that is lifted off the ground has potential energy due to its position. The higher the ball is lifted, the greater its potential energy becomes. When the ball is released, the potential energy is converted into kinetic energy as the ball moves downward.
In summary, kinetic energy is the energy of motion, while potential energy is the energy that an object possesses due to its position or state. Both forms of energy are important in understanding how objects move and interact with each other in the physical world.