Which of the following is not a characteristic of potential energy?

Potential energy is defined as the stored energy that an object possesses due to its position or configuration. This type of energy is related to the potential for an object to do work when it changes position or state.

The first characteristic, that potential energy can be converted to kinetic energy, accurately describes one of its fundamental properties. For example, when an object is at a height, it has gravitational potential energy, which can be transformed into kinetic energy as it falls.

The second characteristic highlights that potential energy is indeed stored energy; it is energy that has the potential to be converted into other forms, such as kinetic.

The third characteristic emphasizes that potential energy does depend on an object's position. For example, a rock on a hill has more potential energy the higher it is positioned because of gravity.

In contrast, energy in motion is a defining feature of kinetic energy, not potential energy. Kinetic energy refers to the energy of an object that is in motion, and thus this option is not a characteristic of potential energy. Understanding this distinction is crucial when studying the different forms of energy and their properties.