Forces have perhaps the most profound impact on the Universe and it's inhabitants. Some of the well known forces of the Universe are gravity, motion, friction, and magnetism.
I'd say motion is among the most present and abundant of these forces. I believe this is true, hence motion is present when objects and organisms release stored potential energy.
Planets are one example of a universal entity in constant motion. Although each planet rotates and revolves around the Sun at different rates, they are still in motion.
If an object is in motion, it has kinetic energy. If an object is completely stationary, it has potential energy.
Why is this relevant?
Understanding the difference between kenitic and potential energy helps to describe the relative nature of energy in any situation to interpret if a force is driving a particular object.
When an object has kinetic energy, the force that transfered the object's potential energy to kinetic can be identified by a variety of ways. This cannot be done until the object has stopped moving.
There's a bit of a catch…
Sir. Issac Newton once stated that an object in motion tends to stay in motion, where as, an object at rest tends to stay at rest.
This simply means that if were to throw a basketball towards a hoop, that ball will keep moving until it makes contact with the hoop.
If I were to roll a bowling ball down a lane, it will keep going, but it will be meeting up with another force that will gradually slow it down as soon as it hits the lane.
Although gravity somewhat comes into play here, the bowling ball will gradually continue to slow down until it makes contact with the pins located at the other end of the lane.
Depending on the amount of force exerted on the bowling ball, it may or may not make contact with the pins.
The number of pins you knock down will depend on if, or how much kenetic energy is transferred to the pins from the bowling ball, and that's a slightly different ball game.
Crazy huh?
Image by Alexander Barnum
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