Which term describes energy in the form of motion?

Which term describes energy in the form of motion?

• A. Potential energy
• B. Chemical potential energy
• C. Mechanical energy
• D. Kinetic energy

Answer: (D)

Energy in motion is called kinetic energy. It depends on how fast something is moving and how heavy it is: the faster and heavier an object, the more kinetic energy it has. For example, a rolling ball or a speeding car both have kinetic energy because they are moving. This is different from potential energy, which is stored energy because of position, like a book sitting on a shelf or water behind a dam. Chemical potential energy is a type of potential energy stored in chemical bonds. Mechanical energy is the total energy an object has from motion and position, the sum of its kinetic and potential energies. So when we’re talking about energy tied to motion itself, kinetic energy is the right term.

Energy in motion is called kinetic energy. It depends on how fast something is moving and how heavy it is: the faster and heavier an object, the more kinetic energy it has. For example, a rolling ball or a speeding car both have kinetic energy because they are moving. This is different from potential energy, which is stored energy because of position, like a book sitting on a shelf or water behind a dam. Chemical potential energy is a type of potential energy stored in chemical bonds. Mechanical energy is the total energy an object has from motion and position, the sum of its kinetic and potential energies. So when we’re talking about energy tied to motion itself, kinetic energy is the right term.