ScienceMindMaster

Kinetic Energy   is the energy possessed by an object by virtue of its motion. Kinetic Energy is a consequence of the object’s velocity. Because of its motion, the object is capable of performing work, or transferring energy.   A bowling ball that is made to roll along the bowling lane possess kinetic energy. The kinetic energy of the bowling ball depends on two variables - its mass and its velocity. Kinetic energy is directly proportional to mass. A heavier object has more kinetic energy than a lighter one, granted both objects are moving at the same speed.    A heavier truck posses more kinetic energy than the smaller truck. The KE of the 5000 kg truck is 250,000 J at 10 m/s velocity while the 10,000 kg truck has a KE of 500,000 J In terms of velocity, the faster the ball rolls, the greater is its kinetic energy. In fact, the relationship between kinetic energy and velocity is a direct square relationship. Kinetic energy is directly proportional to the square of t...

Gravitational Potential Energy  ( PE grav ) is the energy possessed by an object by virtue of its position with respect to the ground. Objects that are raised to a certain height possess gravitational potential energy.  Every material object on earth is attracted to the earth's gravitational pull. When lifting a box, for example, you spend energy to raise it to a certain height. Thus, you perform work on the box.  Work   is a process of transferring energy. The amount of work ( Work = Force x displacement) you perform on the box is equal to the potential energy gained by the box.  While a box is lifted, it goes against the pull of gravity. This makes the box of a particular weight (weight = mass x gravity) more difficult to be lifted as height increases. In effect, since more work is needed to raise an object at a higher position, the more gravitational potential energy is gained by that object. The gravitational energy of an object is computed by   PE gra...