Science Lesson #9: The Difference Between Potential Energy & Kinetic Energy

Greetings Dear Science Teachers and Students! You're welcome to lesson #9. In this lesson, you're going to be introduced to the difference between potential energy and kinetic energy. When it comes to energy, it's vital to all living organisms. Our main source of energy is the Sun. The light is directly transfered to the plants. As a result of food chain, the primary consumers, secondary and tertiary consumers get these amount of energy through simple linear feeding relationships. But as the energy moves from one organism to the other it gradually decline since some are used up for other metabolism.

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"In simple terms, energy is the ability or capacity to do work."

The Potential Energy:

Potential Energy is the energy possessed by a body by virtue of its position. In order words, all objects at rest possess potential energy. A practical examples is a fruit hanging on it tree. A static vehicle. A dog lying on a floor.a bird perching on a branch of a tree. A man sitting relaxed on his chair. A football on a pitch without moving. So all stationary objects have potential energy.

Mathematically, potential energy is calculated as:

Mass of a body×Gravity×Height

Work example to show potential energy.

Eg 1• A mango with a mass of 5kg hangs at a distance of 5m. Calculate the potential energy of the mango. Take Acceleration due to gravity to be 10m/_S2

Solution to question:

Potential Energy=Mass×Gravity×Height

Potential Energy=5kg×10m/_S2×5m

Potential Energy=250Joules

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Kinetic Energy:

Kinetic Energy is the energy possessed by a body by virtue of its motion. All moving bodies possess kinetic energy. Practical examples are; A vehicle in motion, A man walking on a street, A moving bicycle, a kicked ball, a girl dancing on a stage, pulling or pushing a truck.

Mathematically, kinetic energy is calculated as:

Half of the Mass × Velocity Square

Formula:

Kinetic Energy= 1/2Mass×_V2

Work example of kinetic energy

1• A moving vehicle has mass of 2000kg moving with a velocity of 20m/s. Calculate the kinetic energy of the car.

Solution:

Kinetic Energy= 1/2Mass×_V2

Kinetic Energy= 1/2×2000kg×₍₂₀₎2_m/s

Kinetic Energy= 1000kg×400m/s

Kinetic Energy= 400,000Joules

Simplified difference between Kinetic & potential energy

1• Kinetic energy is the kind of energy present in a body by the virtue of its motion, while Potential Energy is the type of energy possessed by the virtue of its position.

2• kinetic energy can be easily transferred from one body to another body, while Potential Energy isn't transferable

3• The determining factors for kinetic energy are Speed or velocity and mass; but the determining factors of potential energy are height / distance and mass.

4• Flowing water is one of the examples of kinetic energy, but Water present at the top of a hill is an example of potential energy

5• Kinetic energy is relative with respect to nature, while Potential Energy is non-relative with respect to nature.

The occurrence of potential & kinetic in our everyday life

In everyday life, potential energy and kinetic energy have been taking place.

When we visit market to buy groceries of food items, we see wheel barrow pushers and truck pushers.

We often monitor our mangoes being hanged on a tree thinking when these fruits would fall onto the ground for us to consume.

Our vehicles worked for the whole day moving. The owner led it packed for rest to continue the work next day.

There are many activities carrying out every day that involves kinetic energy.

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