When we talk about potential energy, there are two main types to understand: gravitational and elastic.

1. Gravitational Potential Energy (GPE):
   This is the energy an object has because of its height above the ground.

   We can figure it out with this simple formula:
   ( PE_{g} = mgh )

   Here’s what the letters mean:

   • ( m ) = mass (how heavy something is, measured in kilograms)
   • ( g ) = gravity (about ( 9.81 , m/s^2 ) on Earth)
   • ( h ) = height (how high something is, measured in meters)

2. Elastic Potential Energy (EPE):
   This type of energy is found in objects like springs.

   The formula for it is:
   ( PE_{e} = \frac{1}{2} k x^2 )

   Let’s break down this formula:

   • ( k ) = spring constant (a measure of how stiff the spring is, in Newtons per meter)
   • ( x ) = how much the spring is stretched or compressed (in meters)

These formulas help us understand how energy is stored in objects based on where they are or the shape they take.