Potential energy is energy that is stored in a person or object. Often, the person or object has potential energy because of its position or shape. Potential energy is energy that is stored in a person or object and is also dependent on mass.
Elastic potential energy is due to an object’s shape. It results when an elastic object is stretched or compressed. The more it is stretched or compressed, the greater its elastic potential energy is.
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Kinetic energy is the energy of moving matter. Anything that is moving has kinetic energy—from atoms in matter to stars in outer space. Things with kinetic energy can do work. For example, a spinning saw blade is doing the work of cutting through a piece of metal. The amount of kinetic energy in a moving object depends directly on its mass and velocity. An object with greater mass or greater velocity has more kinetic energy.
