Understanding Potential Energy: Gravity & Elasticity

Gravitational potential energy is the energy stored in an object due to its position in a gravitational field.Let's see how height affects gravitational potential energy. As an object gets higher, its potential energy increases.Now let's examine how mass affects gravitational potential energy. We'll compare objects of different masses at the same height.Let's look at a practical example: a book on a shelf.Elastic potential energy is stored in objects that can be stretched or compressed. Let's start by understanding Hooke's Law.Hooke's Law states that the force needed to stretch or compress a spring is proportional to its displacement. The equation is F equals negative k x.The spring constant k determines how stiff a spring is. Let's look at three springs with different spring constants.When we apply the same force to springs with different spring constants, they compress by different amounts.The elastic potential energy stored in a spring is given by one half k x squared.This means the energy stored increases with the square of the displacement. A spring stretched twice as far stores four times as much energy.Elastic potential energy is found in many everyday objects.As an elastic object is stretched, the particles within it move further apart, storing more potential energy.