Why is kinetic energy called T and potential energy called V?

Many think that the traditional symbol for potential energy is in fact U, with the V used to indicate the electrical potential (that is potential energy per unit charge), however in many books these are swapped. I believe that it is just a practical thing to do. read more

The word for mechanical energy in French is travail mécanique, and the use of the word “work” has a long French history going back to D’Alembert and others, so the explanation comes across very satisfying, even if it isn’t likely to be true. read more

Interconversion of Kinetic and Potential Energy The law of conservation of energy states that energy cannot be destroyed but can only be transformed from one form into another. Take a classic example of a simple pendulum. read more

The dichotomy between kinetic energy and potential energy can be traced back to Aristotle's concepts of actuality and potentiality. The principle in classical mechanics that E ∝ mv 2 was first developed by Gottfried Leibniz and Johann Bernoulli, who described kinetic energy as the living force, vis viva. read more

Start studying Potential and Kinetic energy. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. read more