Which statement best compares potential and kinetic energy?

Which statement best compares potential and kinetic energy?

a) Only kinetic energy increases when the velocity of an object increases.

b) Objects always have more potential energy than kinetic energy.

c) Only potential energy decreases when an object’s height increases.

d) Objects always have more kinetic energy than potential energy.

Answer: a) Only kinetic energy increases when the velocity of an object increases.

For potential energy, this statement best describes the conversion from potential to kinetic energy. Thus, the kinetic energy changes proportionally to the square of a body’s velocity, which follows the formula KE = ½mv², where m is mass, and v is velocity. Unlike kinetic energy, potential energy is not a function of an object’s velocity, but of the position of the object in a force field, for instance, the height of an object in the case of gravitational potential energy has the formula PE = mgh, where m is mass, g is the Acceleration due to gravity and h is height. Options b, c, and d are invalid because they are statements which cannot be universally true all the time and depict potential and kinetic energy incorrectly.