The energy of motion is called?

Prepare for the American Water Works Water Treatment Plant Operator Test. Study with multiple choice questions, each with hints and explanations. Get ready to excel!

Multiple Choice

The energy of motion is called?

The energy of motion is called kinetic energy. It’s the energy an object has because it is moving, and it depends on both mass and speed—mathematically, KE equals one-half times mass times velocity squared. This means a heavier object or one moving faster has more energy of motion, and speeding up dramatically increases that energy (doubling speed, for example, makes KE rise by a factor of four). In contrast, potential energy is stored due to position, thermal energy relates to the overall random motion of particles and relates to temperature, and chemical energy is stored in chemical bonds. So the moving object's energy is kinetic energy.

The energy of motion is called kinetic energy. It’s the energy an object has because it is moving, and it depends on both mass and speed—mathematically, KE equals one-half times mass times velocity squared. This means a heavier object or one moving faster has more energy of motion, and speeding up dramatically increases that energy (doubling speed, for example, makes KE rise by a factor of four). In contrast, potential energy is stored due to position, thermal energy relates to the overall random motion of particles and relates to temperature, and chemical energy is stored in chemical bonds. So the moving object's energy is kinetic energy.

More practice questions