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Potential Energy — Stored Power - Leejohnston - 01-08-2026
## Potential Energy — Stored Power
### 1. The Equation
Gravitational potential energy:
PE = mgh
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### 2. What Each Symbol Means
- PE = potential energy (joules)
- m = mass (kg)
- g = gravitational acceleration (≈ 9.8 m/s² on Earth)
- h = height above a reference point (metres)
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### 3. What the Equation Is Telling Us
Potential energy is **energy stored because of position**.
The higher an object is lifted, the more energy it stores.
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### 4. Where It Comes From (Intuition)
Lifting an object requires work.
That work doesn’t disappear — it becomes stored energy, ready to be released if the object falls.
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### 5. Worked Example
If:
- m = 10 kg
- h = 5 m
PE = 10 × 9.8 × 5
= **490 joules**
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### 6. Real-World Applications
- Hydroelectric dams
- Roller coasters
- Lifting systems
- Falling objects
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### 7. Common Misconceptions
- Energy disappears when nothing moves → false
- Height is absolute → false (reference matters)
- Only heavy objects have potential energy → false
---
### Try It Yourself
What happens to potential energy if:
- height doubles?
- mass halves?