Question

lesson check: potential energy

1. compare and contrast kinetic energy and potential energy and describe how they are related to mechanical energy.

Explanation:

Kinetic energy (KE) is the energy of motion ($KE = \frac{1}{2}mv^2$, where $m$ is mass, $v$ is velocity). Potential energy (PE) is stored energy (e.g., gravitational $PE = mgh$, $h$ is height, or elastic). Both are forms of mechanical energy, which is the sum of KE and PE ($ME = KE + PE$). They can convert into each other (e.g., a falling object loses PE, gains KE; total ME is constant in a closed system with no non - conservative forces).

Answer:

Kinetic energy is the energy of motion (formula: \( KE=\frac{1}{2}mv^{2} \), where \( m \) is mass and \( v \) is velocity). Potential energy is stored energy (e.g., gravitational \( PE = mgh \), where \( h \) is height, or elastic potential energy). Both are types of mechanical energy, and mechanical energy is the sum of kinetic and potential energy (\( ME=KE + PE \)). Kinetic and potential energy can convert into each other (e.g., a falling object loses potential energy and gains kinetic energy; in a system with no non - conservative forces, the total mechanical energy remains constant).