> In physics, what's the term for the energy an object has because of its motion?And the answer: kinetic. Photo credit: Martina Nolte via Wikimedia Commons.There are several main typesof energy, including thermal, electromagnetic, and mechanical. Kinetic energy isthe kind that an object has because of its motion, and it can be transferredfrom one moving object to another.Anything that moves has kinetic energy. The faster the object goes, the morekinetic energy it creates. However, every object capable of movement alsopossesses another kind of energy: potential. Potential energy is the energystored in an object due to its position. For example, if you hold a ball aboveyour head, the energy stored is potential until the ball is dropped, in whichcase it becomes kinetic energy. Beyond the general categorical definition of kinetic energy, there is a widerange of further clarifying distinctions. Rotational kinetic energy refers to anobject that moves in circles, such as the sun or another planetary body.Vibrational kinetic energy indicates an object whose movement comes from (youguessed it) vibrations, while translational kinetic energy refers to the energyan object possesses moving from one point to another. Kinetic energy depends on mass and velocity, and can be observed in a wide rangeof contexts in every day life. For one, hydropower plants use kinetic energy inmoving water to harness electrical power. When the moving water hits the turbinepresent in the dam, the kinetic energy of the water gets converted intomechanical energy. This mechanical energy moves the turbines and then,ultimately, it leads to the production of electrical energy. Another example ofkinetic energy at work includes wind mills, which use the kinetic energy of windto generate power. Learn more about the energy that powers movement below.