8: Potential Energy & Conservation of Energy

POTENTIAL ENERGY (U) is the energy which can be associated with

configuration of a systems of objects. i.e. The position of an object
Also defined as the energy due to the position of the object

One example is GRAVITATIONAL POTENTIAL ENERGY,

associated with the separation between two objects attracted to each
other by the gravitational force. By increasing the distance between
two objects (e.g. by lifting an object higher) the work done on the
gravitational force increases the gravitational potential energy of the
system.
Another example is ELASTIC POTENTIAL ENERGY which is
associated with compression or extension of an elastic object (such as
a perfect spring). By compressing or extending such a spring, work
is done against the restoring force which in turn increases the elastic
potential energy in the spring
1/19/2018 M. Ahmad 1