Potentsiaalenergia

Potentsiaalenergia, or potential energy, is the energy stored by a system due to the position of its components within a force field. It depends on the configuration of the system and is defined relative to a chosen reference point where the energy is set to zero. The concept is central to classical mechanics and appears in various forms, including gravitational, elastic, electric, and chemical potential energy.

Mathematically, the potential energy U is related to a force F by F = -∇U in multiple dimensions, so the work done by a conservative force when the system moves from one position to another depends only on the initial and final positions, not on the path taken. When only conservative forces act, the total mechanical energy E = K + U (kinetic plus potential) is conserved.

Common examples illustrate the idea. Gravitational potential energy near Earth’s surface is Ug = mgh, where h is height. Elastic potential energy for a spring is Us = 1/2 kx^2, with k the spring constant and x the displacement from equilibrium. Electrical potential energy between two charges can be written as Ue = k q1 q2 / r. In chemistry, chemical potential energy resides in the bonds of molecules and changes during reactions.

Notes on interpretation include that potential energy is relative to a chosen reference point; its absolute value is not observable, only energy differences. The unit of potential energy is the joule (J). Potentials and potential energy play a key role in energy conservation, dynamics, and various fields of physics and chemistry.