Types of Potential Energy

These flashcards cover key concepts related to potential energy, its types, and significant aspects of energy storage.

Potential Energy

The stored energy in a system that is not yet being used.

Gravitational Potential Energy

Potential energy due to an object's position above the Earth's surface.

Elastic Potential Energy

Energy stored in an object when it is stretched or compressed.

Chemical Potential Energy

Energy stored in the bonds of chemical substances.

Stored Energy

Energy that has the potential to do work but is not currently in use.

Work

The result of a force applied over a distance.

Force of Gravity

The gravitational pull that increases potential energy with height.

Height

The vertical distance of an object above a reference point, affecting gravitational potential energy.

Bonds of Chemical Substances

Connections between atoms in molecules that store chemical potential energy.

Chemical Reactions

Processes that release chemical potential energy.

Battery

A device that stores chemical potential energy and converts it to electrical energy.

Stretching

The act of pulling an object, which stores elastic potential energy.

Compression

The act of squishing an object, which stores elastic potential energy.

Stored Energy Forms

Includes gravitational, elastic, and chemical potential energy.

Object in a High Position

Has greater gravitational potential energy than when at a lower position.

Energy Transfer

The movement of energy from one form to another.

Potential to Do Work

The ability of stored energy to convert to kinetic energy.

Height and Potential Energy

The relationship where higher objects possess more potential energy.

Energy Storage

The method of keeping energy in various forms for later use.

Mechanical Energy

The sum of potential and kinetic energy in a system.

Chemical Reactions Examples

Using batteries, eating food, burning wood.

Elastic Energy Example

A stretched rubber band.

Gravitational Energy Example

A rock positioned at a height.

Energy in Physics

The capacity to do work in physical systems.

Kinetic Energy

The energy of motion, as opposed to stored potential energy.

Energy Conservation

The principle that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed.