Potential energy is stored energy due to an object's position or shape, while kinetic energy is energy of motion. There are two types of potential energy: gravitational potential energy, which depends on an object's mass and height, and elastic potential energy, which depends on the stretching or compressing of an object. Kinetic energy depends on an object's mass and velocity and represents the energy of motion. Potential energy is converted to kinetic energy when a stored energy begins to move or change form.