How do you calculate the kinetic and potential energy of an object in physics?

When an object is in motion, it has kinetic energy. When it is at rest, it has potential energy. Kinetic energy is the energy an object possesses due to its motion, while potential energy is the energy stored in an object due to its position or state. Calculating these energies requires knowledge of the object's mass, velocity, and height.

To calculate an object's kinetic energy, use the formula:

KE = (1/2)mv^2

where KE is the kinetic energy, m is the object's mass, and v is its velocity.

To calculate an object's potential energy, use the formula:

PE = mgh

where PE is the potential energy, m is the object's mass, g is the acceleration due to gravity (9.8 m/s^2), and h is the object's height above a reference point.

It's important to note that these formulas only apply to objects that have a constant mass and are moving in a straight line with a constant velocity or at a constant height.