Final answer:
Kinetic energy is directly proportional to the square of the velocity of an object, indicating that this relationship is quadratic.
Step-by-step explanation:
The relationship between potential and kinetic energy deals with how these energies are converted between one another when an object is in motion. The statement that best explains this relationship is kinetic energy is directly proportional to the square of the velocity. This means that when an object's velocity is doubled, its kinetic energy increases by a factor of four, signifying a quadratic relationship. An example of this can be seen when accelerating a car from 20 mph to 40 mph, which quadruples its kinetic energy due to this direct proportionality.
In contrast, potential energy is generally associated with an object's position in a gravitational field and can be converted to kinetic energy as the object moves downwards.