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potential energy
Introduction References & Edit History Quick Facts & Related Topics
Images & Videos
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).
How does a simple pendulum work?
The law of conservation of energy explained
Hear about the proof suggesting an absence of absolute time implies the law of conservation of energy and that force conserves energy
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Electric power lines against sunset (grid, power, wires, electrical, electricity)
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27 True-or-False Questions from Britannica’s Most Difficult Science Quizzes

potential energy: References & Edit History

Article Contributors

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  • The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
    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. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.

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Article History

Type Description Contributor Date
Modified link of Web site: Seneca Polytechnic Pressbooks System - Physics - Potential Energy. Oct 17, 2026
Add new Web site: Campus Manitoba PressbooksEDU Network - Introduction to Biomechanics - Conservative Forces and Potential Energy. May 04, 2026
Add new Web site: UMass Amherst Libraries - Physics 131: What Is Physics? - Potential Energy. Mar 13, 2026
Add new Web site: Khan Academy - Potential energy. Oct 10, 2025
Add new Web site: National Center for Biotechnology Information - PubMed Central - Potential Energy as an Alternative for Assessing Lower Limb Peak Power in Children: A Bayesian Hierarchical Analysis. Aug 30, 2025
Add new Web site: University of Virginia - Department of Physics - Mostly about Potential Energy. Jun 20, 2025
Add new Web site: OpenStax - University Physics Volume 1 - Potential Energy of a System. May 08, 2025
Add new Web site: Brock University - Physics Department - Potential energy (PDF). Mar 26, 2025
Add new Web site: California State University Northridge - Electric Potential and Electric Potential Energy. Nov 22, 2024
Add new Web site: Lehman College - Potential Energy and Conservation of Energy. May 23, 2024
Add new Web site: Live Science - What Is Potential Energy? Apr 12, 2024
Add new Web site: Baylor University - School of Engineering and Computer Science - Potential energy. Dec 14, 2023
Add new Web site: Campus Manitoba PressbooksEDU Network - Introduction to Biomechanics - Conservation of Energy. Nov 02, 2023
Add new Web site: Academia - Potential energy. Sep 17, 2023
Add new Web site: Seneca Polytechnic Pressbooks System - Physics - Potential Energy. Jul 28, 2023
Links added. Jun 16, 2023
Add new Web site: Khan Academy - Potential energy. May 27, 2023
Add new Web site: University of Central Florida Pressbooks - Potential Energy of a System. Apr 14, 2023
Add new Web site: Physics LibreTexts - Conservation of Energy. Jan 06, 2023
Rearranged media. Nov 16, 2021
Added a video and an illustration explaining potential and kinetic energy. May 26, 2020
Changed “the Earth” to “Earth” throughout. May 26, 2020
Corrected display issue. Jan 04, 2019
Added new Web site: Think Quest - Kinetic and Potential Energy. Jul 18, 2008
Added new Web site: Boston University - Potential energy. May 27, 2008
Added new Web site: The Physics Classroom Tutorial - Potential Energy. May 27, 2008
Added new Web site: Connexions - Potential energy. May 27, 2008
Added new Web site: The University of Texas at Austin - Potential energy. May 27, 2008
Added new Web site: Mcasco - Potential Energy and Fields. May 27, 2008
Added new Web site: University of Oregon - Potential Energy. May 27, 2008
Added new Web site: University of Pennsylvania - Potential Energy. May 27, 2008
Added new Web site: University of Winnipeg - Potential Energy Stored in a Spring. May 27, 2008
Added new Web site: HyperPhysics - Potential Energy. Sep 27, 2007
Added new Web site: Physics Classroom - Potential Energy. Sep 21, 2007
Article revised and updated. Jun 01, 2006
Article added to new online database. Jul 20, 1998
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