Potential Energy

A conservative force, such as a gravitational or elastic force, gives the body the capacity to do work. This capacity, measured as the potential energy, depends on the body's location or “position” relative to a fixed reference position or datum. The gravitational potential energy is considered zero at the reference point. Suppose a body is loca...

Potential energy is the ability of a body to do work due to its position.

The gravitational potential energy change is the negative of the work done on a body by force, equal and opposite to its weight, in bringing the body to a specific position from a reference position or datum where the gravitational potential energy is considered zer...