Question

what is energy , kinetic and potential energy.

Answer 1

Energy, in simple terms, can be defined as the capacity to do work. If an object can do some work, then it does have energy.

Kinetic energy is the energy possessed by an object by virtue of its motion. For example, a moving ball can displace another ball(and do work) if it strikes another ball. So it has energy and it is due to its motion. So it is kinetic energy.

Potential energy is the energy possessed by an object by virtue of its position or configuration. An object can do work when it is in a force field(may be gravitational, electric or magnetic). Also when a spring is compressed(a configuration of the spring), it has the ability to do work and energy is stored in it as potential energy.

Answer 2

ENERGY- The capacity of body,animate or inanimate ,to do work is termed as energy. KINETIC ENERGY- The energy possessed by body by virtue of its motion is called kinetic energy POTENTIAL ENERGY- The energy possessed by virtue of its position or configuration is called potential energy.