Potential and Kinetic Energy

Stored energy may occur in two general forms, namely, potential energy and kinetic energy.

Potential energy of a body is defined as the energy that results from the position of the body or its configuration. Potential energy is energy at rest. Examples are water at rest in a reservoir, a spring under tension or compression, a charged capacitor.

Kinetic energy is defined as the energy that results from the motion of a body. Examples of kinetic energy are water in a waterfall, a rotating flywheel, an electric current in an inductive circuit.