What is Potential Energy?
It is the energy possessed by an object due to the virtue of its position. The S.I. unit of potential energy is Joules.
Derivation: Formula of Potential Energy
Consider an object of mass ‘m’, placed at a height ‘h’. Then the force required to raise the object to height ‘h’ will be,
F = m x g
So, Work done against the gravity to raise the object upto certain height ‘h’ is given by
W=Fx h W=mgh
This work done on the object is stored in the object in the form of potential energy (PE).
W=PE=mgh
Let us now solve a numerical problem based on potential energy.
Numerical – Kinetic Energy
A bouncy ball of mass 30kg is at a height of 10m above the ground. The gravity is equal to 𝟗. 𝟖𝒎/𝒔𝟐. What is the potential energy of the ball?
Mass,m =30kg Displacement, s=10m
Acceleration due to gravity = 9.8𝑚/𝑠2
Potential energy
PE=mgh
PE=30 x 9.8 x 10
PE=2940 Joules