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Potential energy is stored energy that has the potential to be converted into other forms of energy. It exists when an object is moved from its original position and has energy pulling it back. The law of conservation of energy applies, and there are different types of potential energy, including elastic, chemical, electrical, and nuclear.
Potential energy is the stored energy of position. It can be thought of as energy that is “stored” by any physical system. It is called potential because, in its present form, it is not doing any work or causing any change in its surroundings. However, it has the potential to be converted into different forms of energy, such as kinetic energy. The standard unit for measuring this energy is the joule.
When an object is moved from its original position and there is energy pulling it back to that position, potential energy tends to exist. A ball on the end of a spring, for example, has energy that will be converted into kinetic energy when it is allowed to return to its original position. A weight held above the ground, when released, will have potential energy as gravity pulls it back to its original position.
One of the main principles of this type of energy is the law of conservation of energy, which states that energy can neither be created nor destroyed. The energy expended to lift an object or compress a spring doesn’t just disappear, it is “stored” as potential energy. It is then released as kinetic energy by a restoring force. Energy input equals energy output; there is no overall energy gain or loss.
There are many different types of potential energy. Elastic potential energy exists when an elastic object, such as a bow or rubber band, is stretched or otherwise deformed under stress. Potential chemical energy is related to the chemical bonds in a molecule. In chemical reactions, chemical potential energy is transformed into other forms of energy as bonds are broken and reformed. Potential electrical energy takes three primary forms: electrostatic, electrodynamic, and nuclear.
Electrostatic potential energy exists when a charged particle is at rest. It has potential energy due to its position relative to other charged particles. Potential electrodynamic energy exists due to the motion of charged particles. These particles can form an electromagnetic field that has the potential to move other objects. Potential nuclear energy exists because of the relationships between subatomic particles, such as protons, electrons, and neutrons, in the nucleus of atoms.
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