Potential energy and kinetic energy are both measured in joules (J), named after the English mathematician, James Prescott Joule. But they have different formulas with respect to their different attributes.
Potential energy depends on the force acting on the two objects, so its formula is:
Potential Energy = mgh
- m is the mass measured in kilograms
- g is the acceleration due to gravity
- h is the height in meters
Kinetic energy is directly proportional to an object’s mass and the square of its velocity. Putting it in a formula we get:
Kinetic Energy = 1/2 m v²
- m is the mass measured in kilograms
- v is the velocity of meters per second