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5. Potential and Kinetic Energy

What Is the Relationship Between Potential and Kinetic Energy?

You now know that potential energy is position relative, and kinetic energy is motion relative.   

The primary relationship between the two is their ability to transform into each other. In other words, potential energy transforms into kinetic energy, and kinetic energy converts into potential energy, and then back again. It’s a never-ending cycle.  

Let’s use another example: Imagine there is a book on a table.   

When the book is at rest, it has potential energy. But when you accidentally knock it off the table, this potential energy will turn into kinetic energy while the book falls since it’s in motion. However, as soon as the book hits the floor, this energy of motion will again convert to potential energy.

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