Which form of energy is due to motion?

Which form of energy is due to motion?

• A. Potential energy
• B. Kinetic energy
• C. Thermal energy
• D. Chemical energy

Answer: (B)

Kinetic energy is the form of energy that comes from motion. When an object moves, its motion stores energy that depends on how heavy it is and how fast it’s moving. The faster or heavier the object, the more kinetic energy it has (mathematically, KE = 1/2 m v^2). For example, a moving car or a rolling ball has kinetic energy, while a stationary object does not. This is different from potential energy, which comes from position (like a ball held above the ground), thermal energy, which relates to temperature and the random motion of many particles, and chemical energy, which is stored in chemical bonds. So, the energy due to motion is kinetic energy.