whats the difference between kinetic, activation , and potential energy?

Question

Example:girl playing basketball

or

sled positioned at top of hill

What types of energy would these fall under? I'm really confused. If someone could explain to me the difference between all 3 of those types of energy that would be great.

Answer 1

Kinetic energy is the energy, or work, inherent in any type of motion. More specifically it refers to the amount of work that can be done by any moving object, or the amount of work required to accelerate an object to a certain speed.

Kinetic energy can be divided into two types: according to the motion involved: "translational" kinetic energy, and "rotational" kinetic energy. Translational K.E. is given by the formula:

Kt = ½m * v²,

where m is mass, and v is linear velocity. Accordingly, rotational K.E. is:

Kr = 2π I * υ²

where I is "rotational inertia", and υ (greek letter "nu") is
the object's rotations per second.

A third form of kinetic energy, "vibrational" kinetic energy, also exists, but this is usually small when compared to the other two, and much more complicated mathematically.

Heat energy can be considered a form of kinetic energy, since heat results from the tiny motions of the atoms and molecules within an object. However, this motion is completely random, and tends to cancel itself out on a large scale. Heat energy is usually considered a class of energy by itself.

Potential energy is energy which is "stored", and can be released later, converting it into kinetic energy.

This can be in the form of a chemical reaction, a stretched spring or compressed gas, an electromagnetic field, a battery, or simply by moving an object to the top of a hill, etc.

Activation energy is work that must be done *before* potential energy can be released.

A sled at the top of a hill requires activation energy, in the form of an initial "push", before it will begin sliding down the hill. Most chemical reactions require a certain amount of activation energy. The energy stored in a piece of firewood must be "activated," by heating the wood, before it will burst into flame. For a cylinder of compressed gas, work has to be done, by opening a valve, before that energy can be released.

A girl playing basketball is an example of all three. Kinetic energy, because she is constantly in motion, her whole body moving across the floor, and her arms and legs both moving, and rotating, powered by the contractions of muscles. Potential energy, in the form of chemicals, such as fats and sugars, which store the energy that her muscles use to create motion.

Muscles also require activation energy; they must be "activated," or "stimulated" by electrical impulses from nerves leading from the brain.

Hope that makes sense,
~W.O.M.B.A.T.

Answer 2

kinetic energy is due to an object being in motion. the equation is k=.5*m*v^2

Activation energy is the energy required to start a chemical reaction and should have nothing to do with a sled on a hill.

Potential energy is due to the displacement of an object in a gravitational field. Its equation is P=m*g*h

So at the top of the hill when the sled isnt moving its potential energy is its mass times the gravity value times the vertical height from the bottom of the hill. The kinetic energy at the top is equal to zero if the cart isn't moving. At the bottom of the hill the potential energy is equal to zero and the kinetic energy at the bottom is equal to the potential energy at the top.

Answer 3

Potential energy is energy o position. For example the sled at the top of the hill, water behind a falls, water in a water tower, a stretched rubber band,a drawn bow string, It can also be expressed as stored energy, like energy stored in chemical bonds, energy stored in a battery, energy stored in the nucleus
Kinetic energy is energy of motion. It could be wave energy such as light, sound, heat, mechanical energy such as the girl running or a machine working, electrical-electrons moving
Activation energy refers to energy needed to start movement or start a chemical reaction. You might need to overcome friction to move. You need a small match to start a fire.