what is kinetic and potential energy?

Question

anonymous · Answer

Kinetic energy is energy due to an object's motion.  Potential energy is energy due to an object's position.  An object that sits higher than another object will have higher potential energy.

anonymous · Answer

How does that work on a roller coaster?

anonymous · Answer

As the roller coaster goes up a hill it loses kinetic energy as it slows down as its kinetic energy is converted to potential energy.  When it tops the hill and starts to go down, that potential energy is converted into kinetic energy.  In general for motion:$$E _{total}=constant=KE + PE$$That assumes that there are no losses in the system (like from friction, aerodynamic drag, and etc).

anonymous · Answer

The above equation can be written in more explicit form:$$E _{total}=\frac{ 1 }{ 2 }mv ^{2}+mgh$$where m is mass; v is velocity; g is the acceleration of gravity; and h is the height.

anonymous · Answer

oh ok

anonymous · Answer

thank you

anonymous · Answer

You're welcome.