2. Kinetic and Potential Energy

Kinetic energy is energy of motion. A moving car, flowing water, and vibrating speaker all have kinetic energy. Potential energy is stored energy due to position, shape, or arrangement.

A ball at the top of a hill has gravitational potential energy. As it rolls down, that potential energy changes into kinetic energy.

Deep explanation. Kinetic energy is energy of motion. A moving car, flowing water, and a thrown ball all have kinetic energy. The faster an object moves and the more mass it has, the more kinetic energy it has. GED® questions may not require the full formula, but they often expect the relationship: more speed means more kinetic energy.

Potential energy is stored energy due to position, shape, or chemical arrangement. A book on a shelf has gravitational potential energy because it can fall. A stretched rubber band has elastic potential energy because it can snap back. Fuel has chemical potential energy because chemical bonds can rearrange and release energy.

Worked example. A roller coaster at the top of a hill has high gravitational potential energy. As it rolls downhill, potential energy decreases while kinetic energy increases. Some energy also becomes heat and sound because of friction.

⚠️ Common misconception: an object at rest can still have energy. A raised object can have stored potential energy.

💡 Tip: motion = kinetic; stored by position = potential.