Potential Energy

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Energy Noun

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[en-er-jee]

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Energy

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The fundamental capacity to do work, which is the action of a force applied over a certain distance.

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Example: This diagram shows an incandescent lamp, which works by converting electrical energy into light and heat energy as electricity flows through the filament.

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Joule Noun

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[jool]

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Joule

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The standard metric unit for energy, equivalent to the work done by a force of one Newton over one meter.

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Example: Lifting a mass (M) against gravity over a distance (q) requires work (measured in Joules), storing it as potential energy in the object.

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Potential Energy Noun

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[po-ten-shul en-er-jee]

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Potential Energy

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The stored energy an object possesses due to its position, state, or internal chemical composition.

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Example: This diagram shows that an object's gravitational potential energy increases with more mass and greater height above the ground.

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Gravitational Potential Energy Noun

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[grav-i-tey-shun-ul po-ten-shul en-er-jee]

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Gravitational Potential Energy

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Energy stored in an object as a result of its vertical position or height within a gravitational field.

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Example: A person standing at the top of stairs has stored energy (gravitational potential energy) because of their high position against gravity's pull.

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Elastic Potential Energy Noun

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[ih-las-tik po-ten-shul en-er-jee]

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Elastic Potential Energy

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Energy stored in an elastic object as a result of its deformation, such as being stretched or compressed.

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Example: A spring stores elastic potential energy when it is deformed, such as by being compressed or stretched away from its original static shape.

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Chemical Potential Energy Noun

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[kem-i-kuhl po-ten-shul en-er-jee]

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Chemical Potential Energy

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Energy stored within the chemical bonds of a substance, which is released during a chemical reaction.

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Example: This diagram shows how a battery works: stored chemical energy is released as electrical energy when electrons flow from the anode to the cathode.

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Mechanical Energy Noun

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[muh-kan-i-kuhl en-er-jee]

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Mechanical Energy

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The sum of the potential energy and kinetic energy that is present in the components of a mechanical system.

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Example: A roller coaster at its peak has maximum potential energy (PE) and no kinetic energy (KE). Its total mechanical energy (ME) is the sum: ME = PE + KE.

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Kinetic Energy Noun

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[ki-net-ik en-er-jee]

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Kinetic Energy

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The energy that an object possesses due to its motion, which is dependent on its mass and velocity.

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Example: An archer releases a drawn bow, converting the stored potential energy into the kinetic energy of the moving arrow.

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Mass Noun

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[mas]

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Mass

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A measure of the amount of matter in a physical body, which also determines its inertia.

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Example: This image shows a balance scale, demonstrating that the apple has more mass than the 1-gram weight because it tilts the scale down.

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Acceleration due to gravity Noun

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[ak-sel-uh-rey-shun doo too grav-i-tee]

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Acceleration due to gravity

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The constant acceleration of an object in free fall within a planet's gravitational field, denoted by 'g'.

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Example: This diagram shows that Earth's gravity is a force that pulls all objects towards its center, which causes them to accelerate downwards.