§ 67 Potential and Kinetic Energy
| Potential Energy | Kinetic Energy |
|---|---|
|
Definition: (The energy an object possesses due to its position or state.) |
Definition: (The energy an object possesses due to its motion.) |
| Notation: Eп | Notation: Eк |
| Unit: Joules (J) | Unit: Joules (J) |
|
Calculation formula: Eп = mgh or Eп = −GMm/r where Eп - potential energy, m - mass, g - acceleration due to gravity, h - height, G - gravitational constant, M - mass of the larger body, r - distance between centers of masses. Examples: Water behind a dam, a stretched rubber band. |
Calculation formula: Eк = ½mv2 where Eк - kinetic energy, m - mass, v - velocity. Examples: A moving car, a thrown ball. |
Potential energy depends on the position or state of an object relative to a reference point or configuration. For example, gravitational potential energy depends on height and mass, while elastic potential energy depends on the degree of stretching or compression.