Potential and Kinetic Energies of a Falling Object

time

0.

mass

0.1

gravity

10.

initial velocity

5.

height

4.56

This Demonstration illustrates the relationship of the potential and kinetic energies of a falling object. The potential energy

mhg

is the product of the object's mass

m

, height

h

, and the gravity

g

. Kinetic energy

1/2m

2

v

is half the product of the object's mass and its velocity squared. Conservation of energy implies that the sum of the potential and kinetic enrgies remains constant.