Potential energy in physics is the energy that an object possesses as a result of its position. The term Potential Energy was first introduced by a well-known physicist William Rankine, in the 19th century. Gravitational Potential Energy, the elastic potential energy of an elastic spring, and the electric potential energy of an electric charge present in an electric field are all commonly used types of potential energy. In general, the work done by the force on an object for making it acquire a specific position is stored as the potential energy of that object.
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For example, if we take an electric charge at infinity and bring it into the electric field of any other electric charge then the work done here is stored as the electric potential energy of that charge.
Let’s understand more about potential energy definition, formula, examples, types, and others in this article.
What is Potential Energy?
Potential energy is defined as the energy stored by an object due to lớn its arrangement, state or position. Potential energy is different from kinetic energy in many ways lượt thích, kinetic energy is the energy of the motion of an object, while potential energy is the stored energy of the object.
Sometimes, according to lớn the condition provided potential energy can be of different forms of stored energy, lượt thích energy from net electrical charge, chemical bonds, or internal tensions. Applications of Potential Energy in our everyday life can be observed when a bicycle is at the top of a hill, a book is placed on a table, stretched spring, etc.
The image given below tells us about how the potential energy of the cyclist changes to lớn kinetic as he reaches the ground.
Potential energy is a characteristic of systems rather than thở of particular bodies or particles; for instance, the system made up of Earth and the raised ball has more potential energy as they become farther apart. Hence, it should be noted that the potential energy possessed by an object is due to lớn its position and configuration. The potential energy of a body toàn thân depends on its mass and the height to lớn which it is raised.
Potential Energy Formula
Potential Energy Formula depends on the force acting on the body toàn thân and the displacement of the body toàn thân. For gravitational force, the potential energy formula is given by,
W = m×g×h
where,
m is the mass of the body
g is the acceleration due to lớn gravity
h is the height
Potential Energy Unit
Potential energy is measured in kgm2s-2 its unit is similar to lớn kinetic energy or work done. In fact, all types of energy have a similar unit. The SI unit for measuring energy is Joule denoted as J.
The dimensional formula for potential energy is [ML2T-2]
Types of Potential Energy
There are three main types of potential energy, and they are:
- Gravitational Potential Energy
- Elastic Potential Energy
Gravitational Potential Energy
Gravitational potential energy of an object is defined as the energy possessed by an object that increased to lớn a certain height against gravity. The magnitude of the gravitational potential energy of an object depends on the height to lớn which it is raised and it’s mass. Therefore, the heavier the object and present at a higher point above the ground, the more gravitational potential energy it keeps.
Earth revolves around the Sun in its fixed orbit. Here, the position of the Sun is fixed and the gravitational potential energy attained by the Earth makes it revolve around the sun.
Gravitational Potential Energy Formula
Let us consider a ball of mass m at a height of h from the ground. Now, as we know, the force required to lớn raise the object is equal to lớn its weight.
W = F = mg
where,
W is the weight of the ball.
F is the Force required,
m is the mass of the object
g is the acceleration due to lớn gravityNow, the gravitational potential energy is equal to lớn the net force required to lớn pull the ball towards the ground, which is given by
Work done = Force required × Displacement of the ball
Ugrav = PEgrav
= F × h
= mg × hThus, Gravitational potential energy formula is,
Ugrav = PEgrav = mgh
Hence, it can be said that the gravitational potential energy of an object is due to lớn its mass, its acceleration due to lớn gravity, and its height above the earth’s surface.
Elastic Potential Energy
Elastic potential energy is the energy that is stored in objects. It can be compressed or stretched such as rubber bands, trampoline, and bungee cords. The object that can stretch more, has more elastic potential energy.
Elastic Potential Energy Formula
Elastic potential energy can be calculated using the following formula:
U = một nửa × Kx2
where,
U is the Elastic Potential Energy
k is the Spring Constant
x is the displacement of the spring.
Also, Check
- What is Energy?
- Difference between Kinetic Energy and Potential Energy
- Practice Problems on Potential Energy
Solved Examples on Potential Energy
Example 1: Find the potential energy of an object of mass 10 kilogam when it is raised at a height of 6 m above the ground. Take, g = 10 m s–2.
Solution:
Given
Mass of the object m = 10 Kg
Height above the ground h = 6 m
Potential energy Ep = ?
We Know that
Ep = mgh
Ep = 10 × 10 × 6
Ep = 600 J
The Potential Energy of the object is 600 J
Example 2: A Ball of mass 22 kilogam is at a certain height above the ground. If the potential energy of the object is 880 J, find the height at which the object is with respect to lớn the ground. Take, g = 10 m s–2.
Solution:
Given,
Mass of the Ball, m = 22 kg
Potential energy, Ep = 880 J
Height above the ground h = ?
We Know that
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Ep = mgh
880 = 22 × 10 × h
h = 880/220
h = 4 m.
The height of the object is 4 m.
Example 3: An asteroid is coming toward the earth. Its height above the ground is 1000 km. Its estimated potential energy is almost 4× 1015 J. Find out the mass of the asteroid.
Solution:
Given,
Potential energy Ep = 3.72 × 1013 J
Height of the asteroid, h = 1000Km = 106 m
Mass of the asteroid, m =?
We know that
Ep = mgh
3.72 × 1013 = m × 10 × 106
m = 3.72 × 106 Kg
Mass of asteroid is 3.72 × 106 Kg
Example 4: A spring has a strength length of 0.7 m. Take k= 16. What is it’s elastic potential energy?
Solution:
Given
k = 7
Length = 0.7 m
Elastic Potential Energy = ?
U = ½ kx2
U = ½ × 16× 0.7× 0.7
U = 3.92 J
Example 5: A spring with spring force constant k= 12 has an elastic potential energy of 24 J. Find out the change in the length of the spring in m.
Solution:
Given,
k = 12
U = 24 J
Length in m = ?
U = ½ kx2
24 = ½ ×12 × x2
x = 2 m
Thus, the change in the length of the spring is 2 m.
FAQs on Potential Energy
Q1: Define Potential Energy.
Answer:
Potential energy is defined as the energy stored by an object due to lớn its arrangement, state or position. Potential energy is different from kinetic energy in many ways lượt thích, kinetic energy is the energy of the motion of an object, while potential energy is the stored energy of the object.
Q2: What are the different types of potential energy?
Answer:
There are various types of potential energy and some of them are
- Gravitational Potential Energy
- Elastic Potential Energy
- Nuclear Potential Energy
- Chemical Potential Energy
- Electrical potential energy
Q3: What is Gravitational Potential Energy?
Answer:
Gravitational Potential Energy of an object is defined as the energy possessed by an object that increased to lớn a certain height against gravity this is the energy of the object due to lớn workdone against the gravitational forces.
Q4: What is the formula for Potential Energy?
Answer:
The formula for potential energy can be stated as,
PE = mgh
where,
m is the mass,
g is the acceleration due to lớn gravity and
h is the height.
Q5: What is Elastic Potential Energy?
Answer:
Elastic potential energy is the energy that is stored in objects. It can be compressed or stretched such as rubber bands, trampoline, and bungee cords. The object that can stretch more, has more elastic potential energy.
Q6: What is the relation between potential energy and kinetic energy?
Answer:
There is a relationship between the potential energy and kinetic energy of the object. We can easily change the potential energy of an object to lớn its kinetic energy i.e. both potential energy and kinetic energy is interconvertible to lớn each other. This can be understood with the help of the following example, take a ball of mass ‘m’ which is placed at a height ‘h’ then its potential energy is ‘mgh’. Now if the body toàn thân is allowed to lớn fall from that height freely then its kinetic energy at the instant when it touches the ground is, một nửa mv2 and mgh = một nửa mv2
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