Potential energy — Science definition
Defined in 2 courses:
- Energy associated with relative position or configuration in an interacting system. (Science 6: Matter, Energy & Earth Systems)
- Stored energy due to an object's position, such as height above the ground. (Physical Science: Matter, Forces & Energy)
Where it is taught
- Forms of Energy & Evidence of Transfer — Energy, Heat & Thermal Design, Science 6: Matter, Energy & Earth Systems, Grade 6
- Kinetic & Potential Energy — Energy & Heat Transfer, Physical Science: Matter, Forces & Energy, Grade 8
In use
5 m up and you have given it about 30 J of gravitational potential energy.
Forms of Energy & Evidence of Transfer
Potential energy is stored energy, waiting to be released.
Kinetic & Potential Energy
Questions using potential energy
Problem 1
- One illustrative result establishes every real condition and needs no further evidence.
- Temperature in degrees Celsius is an amount of energy in joules.
- An energy form can be identified without describing any process or system.
- potential energy: Energy associated with relative position or configuration in an interacting system.
Answer and explanation
potential energy: Energy associated with relative position or configuration in an interacting system.
Energy associated with relative position or configuration in an interacting system. The modeled 100 J transfers into 25 J light and 75 J thermal pathways. Mass in grams describes matter, while a temperature reading in °C is not an energy total. The unchanged casing mass does not mean no energy transfer occurred, and this illustrative partition is not a measurement of every flashlight.
Problem 2
Answer and explanation
196 J
PE = mgh = 10 × 9.8 × 2 = 196 J.
Problem 3
Answer and explanation
At the top, the car is high up and barely moving, so it has maximum potential energy and almost no kinetic energy. As it drops, that potential energy converts into kinetic energy, so by the bottom it's moving fastest (maximum kinetic energy) but has almost no height left (minimum potential energy).
Problem 4
Answer and explanation
98 J
GPE = mgh = 2 × 9.8 × 5 = 98 J.