Science Common Sense

1647 - What is the definition of potential energy.

Potential energy is the energy an object has because of its position or state. It's like stored energy that can be used later.

For example, imagine you roll a ball up a hill. As the ball goes up, it gains potential energy because it's higher up and can roll back down, releasing that energy. Or think of a stretched rubber band - it has potential energy because it's ready to snap back into its original shape, releasing that stored energy.