Understanding potential and kinetic energy in action
Learn about how potential energy and kinetic energy are harnessed to generate electricity through facilities such as the Aswan High Dam.
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
-
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.Volcanologist Janine Krippner dives into the details.
-
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.You can say that all tortoises are turtles, but not all turtles are tortoises.
-
Encyclopædia Britannica, IncSee the world through a deer's eyes. This visual comparison highlights the key differences between human trichromatic vision and deer dichromatic vision, showing how deer perceive shades of blue and yellow while red and orange hues appear muted.Media Editor: Meg Matthias
-
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.Changes in potential and kinetic energy as a pendulum swings.
-
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.Overview of coastal renewable energy technology that uses wave action to generate electricity.
-
© MinutePhysics (A Britannica Publishing Partner)The properties of electromagnetic fields and waves.
-
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.Conducting electric current in a solution of electrolytes.
Transcript
Energy, or the capacity for doing work, is divided into two types:
potential energy...
...and kinetic energy. Potential energy is stored energy that depends upon the relative position of various parts of a system. A spring has more potential energy when it is compressed or stretched;
And a steel ball has more potential energy raised above the ground than it has after falling to Earth.
In both examples, these objects are capable of doing more work. Kinetic energy, on the other hand, involves motion. Work is the transfer of energy; it is done by applying a net force that speeds up an object, and thus the object gains kinetic energy. Kinetic energy is a property of a moving object. It depends on motion, but it also depends upon an object’s mass. In practical terms, potential energy can be used to create kinetic energy to do different things. The stored chemical energy in liquid gasoline can be released when it is ignited, and the resulting kinetic energy can be used to power vehicles. Similarly, the energy of position that occurs in a reservoir of water held back by a dam, such as the Aswan High Dam in Egypt, can be transformed into kinetic energy—in this case the controlled release of water can be used to turn turbines to generate electricity.
potential energy...
...and kinetic energy. Potential energy is stored energy that depends upon the relative position of various parts of a system. A spring has more potential energy when it is compressed or stretched;
And a steel ball has more potential energy raised above the ground than it has after falling to Earth.
In both examples, these objects are capable of doing more work. Kinetic energy, on the other hand, involves motion. Work is the transfer of energy; it is done by applying a net force that speeds up an object, and thus the object gains kinetic energy. Kinetic energy is a property of a moving object. It depends on motion, but it also depends upon an object’s mass. In practical terms, potential energy can be used to create kinetic energy to do different things. The stored chemical energy in liquid gasoline can be released when it is ignited, and the resulting kinetic energy can be used to power vehicles. Similarly, the energy of position that occurs in a reservoir of water held back by a dam, such as the Aswan High Dam in Egypt, can be transformed into kinetic energy—in this case the controlled release of water can be used to turn turbines to generate electricity.