Kinetic and Potential Energy

 The energy may be defined as the capacity of

a body to do work.
 The SI unit of energy is joule (J).
 or 1 kJ = 1000 J

Types of energy :

The various types include potential

energy, kinetic energy, heat energy,
chemical energy, and light energy.
 All Energy

Potential Kinetic
Energy Energy

Gravitation Elastic Chemical

Potential Potential Potential
Energy Energy Energy
 A moving object is capable of doing work in
motion, hence we say that the object has
kinetic energy.

 “Kinetikos” in Greek means to “to Move”.

Hence, Kinetic energy means energy due to
motion.

 Kinetic energy of an object is defined as the

energy which it possesses by virtue of its
motion, and is measured by the amount of
work that the object can do against an
opposing force before it comes to rest.
Examples of bodies possessing kinetic energy:

1. A ball rolling on a surface because it can set another

ball into motion by striking it.
2. A bullet fired from a gun as it is able to penetrate some
distance into a target which it strikes.
3. A fast wind as it can set a boat in motion when striking
against its sail.
4. A moving hammer as it drives a nail into a wall against
the resistance offered to it by the wall.
5. A falling body as it can break something on which it falls
 Energy that is stored and
waiting to be used later
 There are three common
forms of potential energy:
Chemical, gravitational and
elastic.
 The Energy Possessed by an
object by virtue of its
position or configuration is
called its potential energy.
 It is measured by the work
that the object can do in
passing from its present
position or configuration to
some standard position or
configuration.
What is Elastic Potential Energy?

oPotential energy due compression or

expansion of an elastic object.
What is Chemical Potential Energy?

Potential energy stored within the chemical bonds of an object

 What is Gravitational Potential Energy?
o Potential energy due to an object’s
position
o P.E. = mass x height x gravity
When an object is allowed to fall from one level to
a lower level it gains speed due to gravitational
pull, i.e. it gains kinetic energy.

Therefore, in possessing height, a body has the

ability to convert its height into kinetic energy,
i.e. it” possesses potential energy.

If a mass m is at a height h above a lower level

the P.E. possessed by the mass is (mg) (h).
 Kinetic Energy:
Energy possessed by a
body by virtue of its state
of motion is called Kinetic
energy. Kinetic energy is
always positive and is a
scalar.
Kinetic Energy, K = 1/mv2,

when m is the mass and v
is the velocity of body.
 Potential energy is
energy. due to
position. If .a body
is in a position such
that if it were
released it would
begin to move, it
has potential
energy.