Potential

Potential is a term used across disciplines to refer to the capacity to develop or to do something, rather than what currently exists. In everyday usage it denotes latent ability or possibility: a person with potential, a project with potential.

In physics, potential often refers to potential energy—the energy that a system has by virtue of position or configuration. Gravitational potential energy mgh, elastic potential energy in a spring, and chemical potential energies are examples. Potential energy is convertible to kinetic energy; the total mechanical energy is the sum. For a conservative force, there exists a potential function U whose gradient gives the force: F = -∇U.

In electrostatics and magnetism, electric potential is a scalar field φ whose gradient is related to the electric field E by E = -∇φ. The potential difference between two points, measured in volts, determines the work done in moving a unit charge between points.

In mathematics, potential theory studies harmonic functions and related notions derived from potentials of point sources. It seeks to solve problems by representing fields as potentials and uses tools such as Laplace's equation and Green's functions.

In chemistry and thermodynamics, chemical potential μ denotes the partial molar Gibbs free energy, governing phase equilibria and reaction direction.

In social sciences and education, potential describes latent capability or suitability for future development. Assessments of potential are used to identify talent and forecast outcomes.