What is potential energy?

What is potential energy?

• A. The energy of motion.
• B. The energy associated with chemical reactions.
• C. Stored gravitational energy.
• D. The energy of sound.

Answer: (C)

Potential energy is energy that is stored because of an object's position or configuration, giving it the potential to do work in the future. In gravity, objects elevated above the ground have gravitational potential energy: higher height means more energy stored as mgh. When the object is released, gravity can convert that stored energy into motion. The other ideas describe energy tied to motion (kinetic energy), energy stored in chemical bonds (chemical energy), and energy carried by sound waves (sound energy). These are not energy stored simply because of position in a gravitational field, so the gravitational form best fits potential energy.

Potential energy is energy that is stored because of an object's position or configuration, giving it the potential to do work in the future. In gravity, objects elevated above the ground have gravitational potential energy: higher height means more energy stored as mgh. When the object is released, gravity can convert that stored energy into motion.

The other ideas describe energy tied to motion (kinetic energy), energy stored in chemical bonds (chemical energy), and energy carried by sound waves (sound energy). These are not energy stored simply because of position in a gravitational field, so the gravitational form best fits potential energy.