A basketball player going for a lay up is a good example of an object in motion. Just as the player is ready to release the ball, the player exhibits both gravitational potential energy (how high the player jumps) and the kinetic energy of motion (how fast the player is going). How do these two energies relate?

Think about what happens when you are swinging on a playground swing. When you are near the ground, you are going fast. At the top of your swing you are stopped for a split second. Draw the motion of the swing. Where do you have the most energy? Where is the (gravitational) potential energy the greatest? Where is the kinetic energy the greatest? Use Notes on your handheld computer.