Which term describes the energy of motion?

Which term describes the energy of motion?

• A. Kinetic Energy
• B. Thermal Energy
• C. Potential Energy
• D. Light Energy

Answer: (A)

Energy associated with motion is called kinetic energy. When something moves, it has energy due to its motion, quantified by KE = 1/2 m v^2. Thermal energy comes from the random motion of particles inside a substance and relates to temperature, not the motion of a single object. Potential energy is stored energy due to position in a field or configuration, like height in gravity or stretch in a spring. Light energy is energy carried by electromagnetic waves. So the term that best describes the energy of motion is kinetic energy.

Energy associated with motion is called kinetic energy. When something moves, it has energy due to its motion, quantified by KE = 1/2 m v^2. Thermal energy comes from the random motion of particles inside a substance and relates to temperature, not the motion of a single object. Potential energy is stored energy due to position in a field or configuration, like height in gravity or stretch in a spring. Light energy is energy carried by electromagnetic waves. So the term that best describes the energy of motion is kinetic energy.