Potential Energy – Lesson Summary

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Learning Objective

In this lesson we will look at the main types of potential energy: gravitational potential, energy, elastic potential energy, electrical potential energy, chemical energy and nuclear energy.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this lesson you will be able to:

  • Define ‘potential energy’.
  • Describe gravitational potential energy, with examples.
  • Describe elastic potential energy, with examples.
  • Explain why gravitational potential energy and elastic potential energy are types of mechanical potential energy.
  • Describe electrical potential energy, with examples.
  • Describe chemical energy.
  • Describe nuclear energy.
  • Describe factors that affect the magnitude of different types of potential energy.

 
potential energy lesson contents

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Lesson Topics

1 | Types of Potential Energy

2 | Gravitational Potential Energy

3 | Elastic Potential Energy

4 | Mechanical Potential Energy

5 | Electrical Potential Energy

6 | Chemical Energy

7 | Nuclear Energy

8 | Summary

Lesson Summary

  • Potential energy refers to inactive energy.
  • It involves energy storage.
  • Gravitational potential energy is energy possessed by an object as the result of its elevation.
  • The amount of gravitational potential energy an object possesses depends on its elevation and its mass.
  • Elastic potential energy is energy possessed by an elastic object as the result of being stretched, compressed or twisted.
  • The amount of elastic potential energy an object possesses depends on its elasticity and how far it is stretched, compressed or twisted.
  • Gravitational potential energy and elastic potential energy are both types of mechanical potential energy.
  • Mechanical potential energy can be converted into mechanical kinetic energy.
  • Electrical potential energy is energy stored when charged particles are separated.
  • The magnitude of electrical potential energy depends on the relative sizes of the separated charges and the distance of separation.
  • Electrical potential energy can be converted into electrical kinetic energy.
  • Chemical energy is energy stored in chemical bonds.
  • The amount of chemical energy stored in an object or substance depends on its chemical composition and its mass.
  • Chemical energy can be converted into heat energy, light energy and sound energy.
  • Nuclear energy is energy stored in the nuclei of atoms.
  • Radioactive materials are substances with unstable nuclei, where some nuclear energy is converted into nuclear radiation (radiant energy and heat energy) and released from the nuclei.

 
potential kinetic mechanical energy skydiving

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