How do potential energy and kinetic energy differ? How are mechanical energy and thermal energy similar? Forms of Energy

Energy influences everything in your life, including the climate, the economy, and your body. Scientists define energy as the ability to cause change.energy Energy

Potential energy is stored energy due to the interaction between objects or particles. Potential energy Objects have potential energy if they have the potential to cause change. Potential Energy

Objects have gravitational potential energy if they have mass and height above Earth’s surface.

Chemical energy is the energy stored in and released from the bonds between atoms. Chemical energy Your body breaks chemical bonds in foods and coverts the released energy into other forms of energy that your body can use. Potential Energy (cont.)

The energy stored in and released from the nucleus of an atom is called nuclear energy.nuclear energy The Sun’s energy is released through the process of nuclear fusion, during which the nuclei of atoms join together and release large amounts of energy. Potential Energy (cont.)

Kinetic energy is energy due to motion. Kinetic energy An object’s kinetic energy is related to the mass and the speed of the object. The energy in an electric current is electric energy.electric current Kinetic Energy

The sum of the potential energy and the kinetic energy in a system is mechanical energy.mechanical energy Combined Kinetic Energy and Potential Energy

An object’s thermal energy is the sum of the kinetic energy and the potential energy of the particles that make up the object.thermal energy Thermal energy of an object increases when the potential energy, the kinetic energy, or both increase. Combined Kinetic Energy and Potential Energy