Stored energy due to position or deformation, such as mgh or ½kx².
Gravitational PE is mgh, elastic PE ½kx². A force is conservative if the work done is path independent, and then F=-∇U. Reference level is arbitrary; only changes matter.
Raising 100 kg by 10 m stores 9.81 kJ.
Stored energy in position or deformation determines what a system can do later, and it is essential in springs, lifting devices and energy storage.
Stored energy due to position or deformation, such as mgh or ½kx².
Stored energy in position or deformation determines what a system can do later, and it is essential in springs, lifting devices and energy storage.
Potential energy is stored by position or deformation. Kinetic energy is stored by motion, and the two can be exchanged in a conservative system.
Force grows with displacement, so the work needed to stretch it grows with the square of the displacement.
Typical applications include calculating the energy stored in a compressed spring in a valve, estimating the height a ball reaches from its initial energy and sizing a counterweight to store energy in an elevator system.
Study "Work and energy" first (topic 27 of 106 in Engineering Mechanics). It covers the groundwork this topic builds on.
Potential energy stored in position. Springs, gravity and electric fields are conservative. Friction is non-conservative.
Raising 100 kg by 10 m stores 9.81 kJ.
The next topic is "Conservation of energy", which builds directly on this one.
It is classed as Beginner in Engineering Mechanics (topic 28 of 106). It is an entry-level topic. It relies only on basic school mathematics and the ideas introduced earlier in this discipline.
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