Potential Energy

Key Stage 4

Meaning

Potential energy is the energy of an object associated with its position in a field of force.

About Potential Energy

For attractive forces the potential energy increases as the distance between the objects increases.

Particles in a gas have more potential energy than in a solid because the particles are attracted to each other but further from one another.

For repulsive forces the potential energy increases as the distance between the objects decreases.

The potential energy stores you should know are:

• Elastic Potential Energy Store
• Chemical Potential Energy Store
• Magnetic Potential Energy Store
• Electrostatic Potential Energy Store
• Nuclear Potential Energy Store
• Gravitational Potential Energy Store

References

AQA

Potential energy, of particles, page 90, GCSE Physics; Student Book, Collins, AQA