ACT Preparation / Unit 22 ACT 2119 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Kinetic and Potential Energy
Captions available
The idea
Kinetic energy is the energy of motion, ½mv², and grows with the square of speed. Gravitational potential energy depends on height, mgh. Total energy is constant in any process; it only changes form.
In practice
Doubling a cart's speed quadruples its kinetic energy.
Where people slip
Energy can change form or move between systems, but the total stays the same.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
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