Certified Safety Professional Practice Exam

The primary characteristic of potential energy is that it is energy stored due to an object's position. This means that potential energy is inherent in an object based on its location relative to other objects or a reference point. For instance, a drawn bow has stored potential energy due to the position of the bowstring, while a rock perched at the edge of a cliff has gravitational potential energy because of its elevation.

Potential energy differs from kinetic energy, which is the energy associated with the motion of an object. Unlike kinetic energy, potential energy does not result from movement but rather from an object's state or condition. The stored energy can be converted into kinetic energy when the object's position changes, like when the rock falls off the cliff or when the bowstring is released.

This understanding of potential energy is crucial in various fields, including physics and engineering, as it lays the groundwork for comprehending energy transformations and the principles of mechanics.