Kinetic and Potential Energy

(written on June 7, 2019)

Kinetic Energy: Kinetic energy is the energy which a body possesses by virtue of being in motion. In other words, kinetic energy is the energy of motion or movement.

Potential Energy: Potential energy is the energy held by an object in virtue of its position related to others. In other words, potential energy is energy which could be used to do work.

Scenario: Water can produce electricity. Water falls from the sky, converting potential energy to kinetic energy. This energy is then used to rotate the turbine of a generator to produce electricity. In this process, the potential energy of water in a dam can be turned to kinetic energy which can then become electric energy.

By understanding this scenario we can understand how energy transformations happen in certain situations. Water falls from the sky in the form of rain which is an event in the water cycle. While the water was being held in the sky in the form of a cloud, it possessed potential energy. When the water in the cloud gets too heavy, it drops, turning its potential energy into kinetic energy. The kinetic energy from the movement of the water transfers to the turbines of the generator causing them to spin. The motion, or kinetic energy of the spinning turbines is moved to the generator which converts the motion into electrical energy.

In any situation like the one above it is important to understand that the energy is neither created out of nothing, nor is it destroyed.