Potential Energy Facts
Potential Energy Facts
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| Interesting Potential Energy Facts: |
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| There are two main types of potential energy: gravitational potential energy and elastic potential energy. |
| When an object is held in a vertical position, it has gravitational potential energy because gravity is working to pull it down. |
| The amount of gravitational potential energy an object has depends on its height above the ground and its mass. |
| The heavier an object and the higher it is above the ground, the more gravitational potential energy it has. |
| Height and gravitational potential energy are directly related meaning if one doubles, so does the other. |
| Elastic potential energy is energy stored in objects that can be stretched or compressed. |
| Objects such as trampolines, rubber bands, and bungee cords all have elastic potential energy. |
| The more an object can stretch the more elastic potential energy it has. |
| The term potential energy was first used by a Scottish engineer and physicist named William Rankine during the 19th century. |
| The concept of potential energy dates all the way back to Aristotle. |
| When a bow and arrow is used, potential energy from the archers hand is transferred to the bow when it is being pulled back. |
| Energy stored within fossil fuels is called chemical potential energy. |
| Potential energy is called "potential" because although it is stored, it has the potential to be used later. |
| Once an object is acted on by a force, its potential energy is then transformed into a different form of energy. |
| An object must be changed by some type of force in order to possess potential energy. |