Final answer:
Kinetic energy is the term used to describe the energy an object has due to its motion, represented mathematically as KE = ½mv². It's a fundamental concept in physics that contrasts with potential energy, the energy from an object's position or state.
Step-by-step explanation:
The energy an object has by virtue of its motion is called kinetic energy. Kinetic energy is an important concept in physics, describing the energy that an object has due to its motion. The mathematical formula for kinetic energy is given by KE = ½mv², where m stands for mass and v for velocity. Therefore, anything that moves has kinetic energy, ranging from simple objects like a rolling ball to complex systems like a flying airplane. Objects with greater mass or higher velocity will have more kinetic energy.
If an object is stationary and not in motion, it cannot perform work and thus does not have kinetic energy. In contrast, potential energy is the energy that an object has due to its position or state, such as gravitational potential energy which is related to an object's height above the ground. Both kinetic and potential energy are part of the broader concept of mechanical energy.