Kinetic and Potential energy.. easy question???

Question

So i know there are four subtypes of energy each for Potential and Kinetic energy. I can't figure out which of the specific types go under either poten. or kin. energy. There are: Gravitational, Nuclear, Elastic, thermal, radiant, mechanical, chemical, and electrical energy. Which four are potential and which four are kinetic??

thanks!

Answer 1

ok, i think that nuclear, electrical, chemical, and thermal are potential. im not sure though. we are learning about that stuff at school so i will check and try to find the right answer.

Answer 2

Question is easy but explaining it to an non-science person is not.

The answer is no relation between PE & KE to most of the energies that you listed, sole exception is elastic. Both PE and KE are mechanical in common sense.  

If you lift a weight to a height and hold it at that height it can cause certain damage when dropped. If you lift the same weight to double that height before dropping it will cuase more damage. So when you have lifted it to certain height and hold it there, you say that it has certain potential energy which basically indicates the potential of damage it can do on impact.

If you hit an object with an hammer lightly, you cause less impact. If you use real force then the impact is more severe. These indicate the kinetic energy. Harder you hit more energy the hammer carries.

Gravity is the pull of earth and is uniform where ever you may be. You will face gravitation on all heavenly bodies, including on moon or any planet.

Nuclear energy is what you get by playing around with atoms.

Elastic energy is something that you store in a elastic device (spring, rubber). It is potential energy.

Radiant energy is the radiation from any source containing energy such as your fireplace.