Examples of Potential Energy

On physicalWe call energy the ability to do work.

The energy can be:

Potential energy

When we talk about potential energy we refer to an energy considered within a system. The potential energy of a body is the capacity it has to develop an action depending on the forces that the bodies of the system perform against each other.

In other words, potential energy is the ability to generate work as a consequence of the position of a body. For example: a kite, balloons, a roller coaster.

The potential energy of a physical system is that which the system has stored. It is the work done by forces on a physical system to move it from one position to another.

It differs from the Kinetic energySince the latter only manifests itself when a body is in motion, while potential energy is available when the body is immobile.

It is important to remember that when we talk about movement or immobility of a body, we always do it from a certain point of view. When we speak of potential energy, we refer to the immobility of a body within the system. For example, a person sitting on a train is immobile from the system point of view of his cabin. However, if observed from outside the train, the person is moving.

Types of potential energy

Examples of potential energy

1. Balloons. When we fill a balloon we are forcing a gas to stay in a delimited space. The pressure exerted by that air stretches the walls of the balloon. Once we finish filling the balloon, the system is immobile. However, the compressed air inside the balloon has a large amount of potential energy. If a balloon pops, that energy becomes kinetic and sound energy.
2. An apple on a tree branch. While suspended, it has gravitational potential energy, which will be available as soon as it is detached from the branch.
3. A keg. The kite is suspended in the air thanks to the effect of the wind. If the wind stops, it will have its gravitational potential energy available. The kite is usually higher than the apple on the tree branch, meaning that its gravitational potential energy (weight for height) is higher. However, it falls slower than an apple. This is because the air exerts a force opposite to that of gravity, which is called "friction". As the barrel has a larger surface than the apple, it suffers a greater friction force when falling.
4. Roller coaster. The roller coaster's mobile gets its potential energy as it climbs to the peaks. These peaks function as unstable mechanical equilibrium points. To get to the top first, the mobile must use the power of its engine. However, once up, the rest of the journey is made thanks to the gravitational potential energy, which can even make it climb to new peaks.
5. Pendulum. A simple pendulum is a heavy object tied to a shaft by an inextensible thread (which keeps its length constant). If we place the heavy object two meters high and let it go, on the opposite side of the pendulum it will reach exactly two meters high. This is because its gravitational potential energy drives it to resist gravity to the same extent that it was attracted to it. Pendulums eventually stop due to the frictional force of the air, never due to the force of gravity, since that force continues to cause movement indefinitely.
6. Sit on a sofa. The cushion (cushion) of the sofa where we sit is compressed (deformed) by our weight. Elastic potential energy is found in this deformation. If there is a feather on the same cushion, the moment we remove our weight from the cushion, the elastic potential energy will be released and the feather will be expelled by that energy.
7. Drums. Inside a battery there is a certain amount of potential energy that is only activated by joining an electrical circuit.

Other types of energy