If so instructed by your teacher, print out a worksheet page for these problems. Potential energy is stored energy. The chemical energy in a can of gas, the energy in a compressed spring, and the energy in water behind a dam are all examples of potential energy. Potential energy is also called energy of position .
Kinetic energy is energy of motion.
When a glider loses altitude it converts potential energy into kinetic energy. This is an example of the law of conservation of energy . When potential energy is converted into kinetic energy, the velocity of the plane or glider increases. The amount of increase can be calculated by solving for velocity in the kinetic energy equation given above. A model glider has a mass of 1 kg.