Potential & Kinetic Energy

Mechanical energy is divided into potential and kinetic energy.

What is Potential Energy?

Potential Energy is the energy possessed by a body by virtue of its position at rest. The object is usually stationary or at rest.

Such energy is used to do work when the body is free to move.

For example, when a metal flask is placed on top of a table, it has potential energy. When allowed to fall on a flat glass mirror on the floor, it will shatter the mirror. Potential energy is expended in shattering the mirror.

What happens to the potential energy if the ball is placed on a higher stool?

Answer: The potential energy is greater if the position of the ball is higher. We can say that the ball has the potential to cause more damage. In other words, the greater the distance the higher the potential energy.

When a body of mass (m) is lifted, vertically upwards to a height ‘h’, the work done, w, against the gravity by the weight of the body, the body is said to possess gravitational potential energy.

Gravitational potential energy, P.E = weight × height