The 5 Types Of Potential Energy
Gravitational Potential Energy
Gravitational potential energy is the energy an object has stored because of its vertical position in the gravitational field or it’s height. Gravitational potential energy transfers to kinetic energy when the stored energy from the object's position or height is used and the object moves, this usually means the object rolls or falls.
Magnetic Potential Energy
Magnetic potential energy is the concept that in a magnetic field there is a force between magnets when they attract or repel. Therefore potential energy is stored in the magnets because of the force and energy that is exerted when two opposite poles come together. Magnetic polarity is the magnetic field around magnetic objects that is aligned with the earth’s magnetic field, so the polarity of a magnet is oriented with the same north and south poles as the earth’s magnetic field. Magnetic force decreases with distance and when two opposite poles are farther away from each other their force of attraction decreases. When two like poles are farther away from each other their force of repulsion decreases so they do not push away from each other as strongly.
Electrical Potential Energy
The stored energy of a circuit is known as electric potential. Charges in an electric field, correlate to how much potential energy it has. A positive charge next to another positive charge has a large potential energy. However a positive charge next to a negative charge will have low potential energy. To make a potential charge grow you have to do work (like moving a bowling ball up several floors of a building to drop it.) In this case the work is done to push a charge towards a positive charge or away from negative charge. This work is done to increase potential energy. This energy becomes kinetic by an electrostatic force. Electric potential energy is measured in joules.
Batteries transform chemical energy into electrical energy
Chemical Potential Energy
Chemical potential energy is when molecules are broken down and converted into energy. In simpler terms it is energy that is stored in the chemical bonds that causes a chemical reaction. For instance when you eat food you break down said molecules to produce energy. “Every physical thing in the world is made of molecules, and all of them have potential energy within their bonds.” These bonds are the bonds between the atoms. Atoms with stronger bonds have less potential energy, while atoms with weaker bonds have more potential energy. A lot of chemical energy has a thermal reaction when converted into kinetic energy. An example would be gasoline. You pour it into your car, various processes in the car turn the gas into work, but some of the potential energy turns into heat, making the engine of the car hot.
Chemical Energy can be stored in
Explosives
Flame
& The Foods You Eat
Elastic Potential Energy
Diagram of Elastic Potential Energy
Elastic potential energy is stored energy as a result of an elastic object being stretched or compressed, an example of this is the stretching of a spring or rubber band. There are two ways you can create this type of potential energy, by either stretching or compressing an elastic object. For example take a spring, compressing the spring causes you to do work against the force that the spring is pushing back at you which creates potential energy for as long as the spring is compressed. When stretching the spring you are doing work to overpower the spring’s restoring force, this also creates elastic potential energy.
Thank You For Listening!
Work Cited
Web. 30 Mar. 2016.
Infoplease. Infoplease. Web. 31 Mar. 2016.
"CK-12 Foundation." Chemical Potential Energy. Web. 05 Apr. 2016.
"Converting Chemical Energy into Radiant Energy." Cape Light Compact. 22 May 2015. Web. 05 Apr. 2016.
"Elastic Potential Energy." Elastic Potential Energy. Web. 01 Apr. 2016.
"Elastic Potential Energy." - Energy Education. Web. 06 Apr. 2016.
"How to Convert Potential Energy into Kinetic Energy." - For Dummies. Web. 30 Mar. 2016.
"How to Shop: Super Cheap Healthy Foods." TrackMyFitness. 18 May 2015. Web. 05 Apr. 2016.
"Magnet Stock Photos and Images." 123RF Stock Photos. Web. 01 Apr. 2016.
"Oscillation." Whatwhenhow RSS. Web. 06 Apr. 2016.
"Potential Energy." Potential Energy. Web. 29 Mar. 2016.
"Potential and Kinetic Energy." Science Learning Hub RSS. Web. 30 Mar. 2016.
"What Is Electricity?" What Is Electricity? Web. 04 Apr. 2016.