Potential energy is easy to spot in everyday objects and situations. It shows how energy is stored in an object based on where it is or how it is shaped.

1. Gravitational Potential Energy:

• When something is up high, it has something called gravitational potential energy (GPE).

• We can calculate GPE using this simple formula:

  GPE = mgh

  Here’s what the letters mean:

  • m = mass (how heavy it is) in kilograms (kg)
  • g = the pull of gravity (which is about 9.81 m/s²)
  • h = height (how tall it is) in meters (m)

• For example, if we have a 2 kg object that is lifted 3 meters high, we can find its GPE like this:

  GPE = 2 x 9.81 x 3 = 58.86 J

  (J stands for Joules, a unit of energy.)

2. Elastic Potential Energy:

• This type of energy is saved when things are stretched or squished.

• A good example is a spring. When a spring is pushed down or pulled up, it can store energy. We can find how much energy it stores using this formula:

  EPE = 1/2 k x²

  Again, here’s what the letters mean:

  • k = spring constant (how stiff the spring is)
  • x = how much it has been stretched or compressed (in meters)

3. Chemical Potential Energy:

• This type of energy is found in food and batteries.

• It can be let out when chemical reactions happen, like when we eat food for energy or when batteries power our devices.

By learning about these kinds of potential energy, we can see why they are important in understanding how things work in physics!