Potential energy is the energy held by an object because of its position relative to other objects, stresses within itself, its electric charge, or other factors. It is the stored energy of position possessed by an object. Potential energy comes in many forms, such as gravitational potential energy, elastic potential energy, magnetic potential energy, and electric potential energy. Common types of potential energy include the gravitational potential energy of an object, the elastic potential energy of an extended spring, and the electric potential energy of an electric charge in an electric field.
The unit for energy in the International System of Units (SI) is the joule (J) . To determine the gravitational potential energy of an object, a zero height position must first be arbitrarily assigned. Typically, the ground is considered to be the zero height position. Potential energy arises in systems with parts that exert forces on each other of a magnitude dependent on the configuration, or relative position, of the parts. Potential energy is not a force, but it can be converted into kinetic energy, which is the energy of motion.
