Definition of Potential Energy

The EnergyPotentialis the capacity of a body to perform work according to the configuration it holds in the system of bodies that exert forces on each other, that is, the potential energy is the energy that is capable of generating work as a consequence of the position of a body. It can be considered as the energy stored in the system or the measure of work that the system can deliver.

Then, it is assumed that when a body is mobilized in relation to a certain reference level it will be in a position to accumulate energy.

When a body is raised to a certain height it acquires what is known as gravitational potential energy; once the body falls, that potential energy will immediately be transformed into Kinetic energy. For example, the cars of a Mountain Russian forces achieve gravitational potential energy in the highest part of their path, once they begin to descend to the previous energy it is converted into kinetic energy, as we said.

Potential energy is somehow recognized as a scalar magnitude that is associated with a field of forces. The difference between the field values ​​of a point A with respect to a point B will be equal to the work done by the

force to travel between A and B.

This type of energy may be presented as: gravitational potential energy, that we just explained it, chemical energy and elastic potential energy.

The chemical potential energy is the energy that is transformed into kinetic energy from a process of combustion inside. Cars that are powered by gasoline They will take advantage of the chemical potential energy that it has, which, when it enters into combustion, will generate enough energy to make the vehicle go.

For its part, the elastic potential energy occurs when increases the internal energy accumulated in a deformable solid, as a consequence of the work carried out by the forces that cause the aforementioned deformation.

The food that we ingest human beings have potential energy in the form of chemical energy, which will be released once the body releases them.

Topics in Potential Energy