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potential energy
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Illustration showing examples of energy types: a raised hammer and a drawn bow represent potential energy, the swinging hammer and released arrow illustrate kinetic energy, and the hammer striking a nail demonstrates mechanical energy.
Understanding potential and kinetic energy in action
A 3D plot shows two potential energy surfaces: section A, shaded red, rises sharply to illustrate the repulsive potential between two positive charges; section B, shaded blue, dips downward to show the attractive potential between a negative and a positive charge. A three-dimensional wireframe graph with a steep red plateau and a deep blue well, illustrating the potential energy landscape experienced by a positive charge. potential energy as a function of elongation of a fissioning nucleus A graph showing a potential energy curve for a chemical reaction, with the y-axis labeled potential energy and the x-axis labeled progress of reaction. The curve rises from the initial state (reactants) to a peak labeled transition state (activated complex), indicating activation energy, then drops to the final state (products).
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The law of conservation of energy explained
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Illustration showing examples of energy types: a raised hammer and a drawn bow represent potential energy, the swinging hammer and released arrow illustrate kinetic energy, and the hammer striking a nail demonstrates mechanical energy.
potential and kinetic energy Potential energy is stored energy, whereas kinetic energy is the energy of moving things. In these examples, potential energy is transferred to kinetic energy.

potential energy

physics
Also known as: stored energy
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Britannica Editors
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....
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potential energy, stored energy that depends upon the relative position of various parts of a system. A spring has more potential energy when it is compressed or stretched. A steel ball has more potential energy raised above the ground than it has after falling to Earth. In the raised position it is capable of doing more work. Potential energy is a property of a system and not of an individual body or particle; the system...

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