Potential And Potential Energy

Potential and Potential Energy Concepts:

Potential energy:

• The stored energy of a system associated with its position or configuration.

Gravitational potential energy (PE):

• Energy due to an object’s position in a gravitational field. Formula: PE = mgh
• m: mass, g: acceleration due to gravity, h: height.

Elastic potential energy:

• Stored energy in stretched/compressed objects. Formula: PE = (1/2)kx^2
• k: spring constant, x: displacement from equilibrium.

Chemical potential energy:

• Energy stored in chemical bonds.

Nuclear potential energy:

• Energy stored within an atom’s nucleus.

Electric potential energy:

• Energy due to charged particles’ arrangement. Formula: PE = k(Q₁Q₂) / r
• k: Coulomb’s constant, Q₁ and Q₂: charges, r: distance between charges.

Equipotential surfaces:

• Surfaces where potential is constant.

Potential difference:

• Difference in potential between two points. Unit: Volts (V).

Work done by a conservative force:

• Negative change in potential energy. Formula: W = -ΔPE

Conservation of energy:

• Total energy in a closed system remains constant.