Definitions for potential energy
po·ten·tial en·er·gy

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:3.8 / 4 votes

1. potential energy, P.E.noun

   the mechanical energy that a body has by virtue of its position; stored energy

WiktionaryRate this definition:4.0 / 1 vote

1. potential energynoun

   the energy possessed by an object because of its position (in a gravitational or electric field), or its condition (as a stretched or compressed spring, as a chemical reactant, or by having rest mass)

WikipediaRate this definition:5.0 / 1 vote

1. Potential energy

   In physics, potential energy is the energy held by an object because of its position relative to other objects, stresses within itself, its electric charge, or other factors.Common types of potential energy include the gravitational potential energy of an object that depends on its mass and its distance from the center of mass of another object, the elastic potential energy of an extended spring, and the electric potential energy of an electric charge in an electric field. The unit for energy in the International System of Units (SI) is the joule, which has the symbol J. The term potential energy was introduced by the 19th-century Scottish engineer and physicist William Rankine, although it has links to Greek philosopher Aristotle's concept of potentiality. Potential energy is associated with forces that act on a body in a way that the total work done by these forces on the body depends only on the initial and final positions of the body in space. These forces, that are called conservative forces, can be represented at every point in space by vectors expressed as gradients of a certain scalar function called potential. Since the work of potential forces acting on a body that moves from a start to an end position is determined only by these two positions, and does not depend on the trajectory of the body, there is a function known as potential that can be evaluated at the two positions to determine this work.

ChatGPTRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. potential energy

   Potential energy is the stored energy in an object or system due to its position or configuration. It is energy that has the potential to be converted into other forms of energy, usually kinetic energy. Potential energy can be associated with forces such as gravity, elasticity, or electrostatic and magnetic forces.

WikidataRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Potential energy

   In physics, potential energy is the energy of an object or a system due to the position of the body or the arrangement of the particles of the system. The SI unit for measuring work and energy is the joule. The term potential energy was coined by the 19th century Scottish engineer and physicist William Rankine, although it has links to Greek philosopher Aristotle's concept of potentiality. Potential energy is associated with a set of forces that act on a body in a way that depends only on the body's position in space. This allows the set of forces to be considered as having a specified vector at every point in space forming what is known as a vector field of forces, or a force field. If the work of forces of this type acting on a body that moves from a start to an end position is defined only by these two positions and does not depend on the trajectory of the body between the two, then there is a function known as a potential that can be evaluated at the two positions to determine this work. Furthermore, the force field is defined by this potential function, also called potential energy.

Editors ContributionRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. potential energy

   The potential within matter relating to the position of the matter

   Potential energy is used within aeronautics relative to the functioning of aircraft and spacecraft

   
   

   Submitted by MaryC on February 21, 2021  

Matched Categories

1. • Mechanical Energy

How to pronounce potential energy?

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How to say potential energy in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of potential energy in Chaldean Numerology is: 5

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of potential energy in Pythagorean Numerology is: 6

References

1. ^ Princeton's WordNet
   http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=potential energy
2. ^ Wiktionary
   https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Potential_Energy
3. ^ Wikipedia
   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potential_Energy
4. ^ ChatGPT
   https://chat.openai.com
5. ^ Wikidata
   https://www.wikidata.org/w/index.php?search=potential energy