Potential Energy: Understanding And Examples In Daily Life

YOGYAKARTA In physical science, some kinds of energy are known. One of them is potential energy.

Potential energy is the energy of an object due to the influence of the place or position of the object.

The following article will discuss in more detail what potential energy is and for example in everyday life.

In the book Seri Sanis: Energi by Taufik Hidayat (2020), potential energy is defined as energy owned by an object due to the influence of the place or position of the object.

According to Taufik, potential energy is also referred to as stationary energy because objects that are in a stationary state can have energy.

If the object moves, then the object undergoes a change in potential energy to energy movement.

Potential energy is divided into three types, namely gravitational potential energy, elastic potential energy or spring, and electric potential energy. The explanation is as follows.

1. Gravitational potential energy

The potential energy of gravity is the energy of the object because of its position by the earth's surface.

The gravitational potential energy can be described with the following formula:

EP: m.g.h

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2. Elastic potential energy or spring

Elastic potential energy is the power present in objects that have elastic properties.

The energy of the elastic potential occurs due to the tendency of the object to remain in its original position.

In physics, the energy of the elastic potential can be calculated by the following formulas:

Ep = 1 00:2 k. x2

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3. Electric potential energy

Meanwhile, what is meant by the energy of the potential for electricity is the power of the object due to the electric current. Electric energy can be used for various human purposes.

Electric potential energy is described with the following formula:

Ep = k (Q.q/r)

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The following is an example of potential energy in everyday life:

1. A waterfall

An example of potential energy that is most easily found is waterfalls. The waterfall that flows from high to low positions has the potential energy of gravity.

In principle, the higher the location of an object, the greater the potential energy of gravity produced.

2. Bows

The next example is an arrow bow. After being stretched, the bow has potential energy that works in it. This energy is caused by the arrow Returning to its original position.

The potential energy possessed by the arrows is an example of the energy of the elastic potential or spring.

3. Electric charge in the capacitor

The electric content inside the capacitor has an electric potential energy that can be released when the capacitor is turned on.

In the two equally positive and positive electric charges, the position is approached at a certain distance. So when the charge is released, both of them will move repulsively. The energy in question is electric potential energy because it has an electric charge in it.

This is information about the definition of potential energy along with examples in everyday life. Hopefully this article can add insight to the loyal readers of VOI.ID.