Learn How Your Home’s Electricity Has Potential and Kinetic Energy

Here’s what you need to know about potential and kinetic energy.

The science behind the energy that powers your home

The electricity that powers your home comes down to the basic laws of energy you learned in school. Energy — the ability to do work — has two categories: potential and kinetic. While energy cannot be created or destroyed, it can be transformed into different types — which is what happens when energy becomes the electricity that turns your lights on and runs your AC.

Potential versus kinetic energy

Potential energy is stored in a body or object, ready to be released into its surroundings. Once activated, this type of energy converts into kinetic energy. One example of potential energy in your home is a space heater. Unplugged, a space heater has potential energy because it contains the correct parts, like coils and an electrical cord, to heat your room. Once you plug the space heater into an outlet and turn it on, it becomes kinetic energy as it actively emits heat.

Kinetic energy is the energy in motion behind every action or movement of an object (inanimate or animate). There are countless instances of kinetic energy inside your home, such as boiling water, music, or a running refrigerator that keeps food cold. Your electricity is another example of actively moving kinetic energy that performs work as it lights up your home and powers devices.

How potential and kinetic energy work together

Potential and kinetic energy work in tandem to power your home. Most electricity is stored in batteries at power plants before it is released to homes and businesses. While it is stored, the electricity is potential energy because it is not in motion but has the potential to activate. It is then transported through transmission and power lines to reach its destination. When the electricity begins moving, it is kinetic energy. Kinetic energy is often the result of potential energy, and potential energy is defined by its ability to turn into kinetic energy.

The electricity feeding your lights, running your HVAC unit, and powering your devices is kinetic energy converted from potential energy.

Examples of potential and kinetic energy in your home

Here are a few common examples of potential and kinetic energy that you likely interact with daily. Notice how these scenarios depend on each other, as potential energy becomes kinetic.

Kinetic and potential energy FAQ

• Are there other forms of kinetic energy aside from electricity?

Aside from electricity, the other forms of kinetic energy are radiant, thermal, mechanical, and sound. Radiant energy is electromagnetic energy that travels in waves like light and sunshine. Thermal energy is heat from atoms and molecules moving. Mechanical energy is moving objects, like a car or airplane. The last form of kinetic energy is sound, created by energy waves moving and causing a vibration. These types may or may not be present in your home.

• How many types of potential energy are there?

Potential energy has four types: chemical, elastic, nuclear, and gravitational. Chemical energy is stored in the bonds of atoms and molecules such as batteries or coal. Elastic energy is held by objects that have tension, like a rubber band or springs. Nuclear energy is released by the nucleus of an atom. Lastly, all objects on Earth have gravitational energy based on their position in the gravitational field (or height above the ground).

• Is residential electricity considered kinetic or potential energy?

Electricity is a type of kinetic energy because it is actively in motion. It may not seem like your electricity is in motion, but the electrical current running from power lines or batteries is active. The energy is potential when held in the battery or stored in the power plant, but once in action, it becomes kinetic.

• What is an example of potential energy?

A battery is a good example of potential energy because it stores an electrical charge. The battery itself has potential energy because of the electrical charge held within. Once the battery is placed into a remote and operates your TV, it has kinetic energy.