AP Physics 1 / Unit 3: Work, Energy, and Power
3.3 Potential Energy
Notes
- Gravitational: $U_g=mgh$ near Earth.
- Spring: $\displaystyle U_s=\frac{1}{2}kx^2$.
- Potential energy belongs to a system (object + Earth, or spring + mass).
Practice
A 2 kg book lifted 3 m gains (g = 10):
$mgh$.
A spring ($k=100$ N/m) compressed 0.2 m stores:
$\displaystyle \frac{1}{2}(100)(0.04)$.
Potential energy depends on:
Stored by arrangement.
Ready for more? Take the Unit 3 test.