Energy is the ability to do work or cause change. It comes in two forms: kinetic energy, which is energy in motion, and potential energy, which is stored energy. Kinetic energy increases as an object's mass and velocity increase, and can be calculated using the formula kinetic energy = 1/2 x mass x velocity squared. Potential energy is energy that is held and ready to do work, such as the energy stored in compressed springs or lifted objects, where gravitational potential energy can be calculated as weight x height.