Question

can you end up with more kinetic energy than you started with?

Answer 1

before...

Answer 2

yes, it's possible if you have a non-isolated system and conservative forces only.
conservative forces are forces that are not path dependent such as normal forces
non-conservative forces are forces that are path dependent such as friction which slows things down
isolated system are system that you pick with not external forces acting on it
for example: earth, book, table.
non-isolated system: book and table, gravitational force is acting on this book because you left the earth out.
the only way to change the total energy of a system is by transferring energy from outside of the system such as adding more mass (matter) ect.... however, within the system, energy is transform from one form into another like kinetic energy can turn into potential or the other way around... so if you have a lot of potential energy at the beginning, all those energy can turn to kinetic energy so your kinetic energy final is bigger than your energy at the beginning.


but be careful, it's all about what kind of system you pick and the situations.

Answer 3

A body under free fall starts with zero kinetic energy and maximum potential energy. But as it undergoes free fall, its kinetic energy increases while its potential energy decreases.