What Is Potential Energy?
It is not being used at the moment but can be released or converted into another form like kinetic energy.
Potential energy is the stored energy an object has due to its position or condition.
Example: A book on a shelf has potential energy. If it falls, the energy becomes kinetic energy (energy of motion).
Meaning of “Potential”
The word potential means something that is possible or may happen in the future.
In science, it describes energy that is not active yet, but has the ability to do work when conditions change.
It’s like energy that is waiting to be used.
Meaning of “Energy”
Energy is the ability to do work or cause change in an object or system.
Energy can make things move, heat up, light up, or break apart.
There are many types of energy.
such as:
Kinetic energy (moving objects)
Thermal energy (heat)
Light energy (from the sun or lamps)
Potential energy (stored energy)
Formula for Potential Energy
The most common type is gravitational potential energy, which depends on how high an object is above the ground.
The formula is:
Potential Energy (PE) = mass × gravity × height
PE = m × g × h
Where:
PE is potential energy in joules (J)
m is the object’s mass in kilograms (kg)
g is the acceleration due to gravity, which is 9.8 m/s² on Earth
h is the height above the ground in meters (m)
How to Measure Potential Energy
Step 1: Measure the mass of the object using a scale (in kilograms).
Step 2: Measure the height of the object above the ground (in meters).
Step 3: Use the formula PE = m × g × h to calculate the energy.
Step 4: Multiply the values together. The answer is the object’s potential energy in joules (J).
Example:
A ball with a mass of 2 kg is placed on a shelf 5 meters high.
Use the formula for potential energy: PE = m × g × h.
Plug in the values: PE = 2 × 9.8 × 5.
First multiply 2 × 9.8 = 19.6.
Then multiply 19.6 × 5 = 98.
The ball has 98 joules (J) of potential energy because of its height.
Favourite part/ note/ summary-Potential energy is the stored energy an object has due to its position or condition. Potential means there is a chance or it has an ability to do something. Energy is the ability to do work or cause change. It can make things move, heat up, light up, or even grow.
Formula of energy:
Energy = Work = Force × Distance
This is the most basic formula for energy as work done.
It means energy is used when a force moves something over a distance.
Unit of energy: joule (J)
1 joule = 1 newton × 1 meter
Why do we often take the potential energy at ground level as zero? What happens if we choose a different reference point?
Can an object have potential energy and not kinetic energy, or vice versa? Give real-life examples.
What does it mean when we say potential energy is a "conservative" force field?
A spring has a spring constant of 500 N/m. How much potential energy is stored in it when compressed by 10 cm?
A mass is lifted 5 meters above the ground. How much potential energy does it gain, and where did that energy come from?
How much gravitational potential energy does a satellite have in orbit compared to at the Earth’s surface?
keywords
Gravitational field
Gravitational potential (V)
U=mghU = mghU=mgh (near Earth's surface)
Universal law of gravitation
Escape velocity
Zero potential energy point
Satellite orbit energy
Height (h)
Mass (m)
Acceleration due to gravity (g)
Hooke’s Law
Spring constant (k)
Extension/compression (x)