Types of Potential Energy

Different forms of potential energy include gravitational, electrical, chemical, nuclear, and elastic potential energy.

Gravitational potential energy is the most apparent form of potential energy, and it depends on the relative position of the object under the influence of the gravitational field. For instance, the book held above the table has gravitational potential energy stored in it.

Electrical potential energy comes from the attraction or repulsion of electric charges, such as the energy stored inside a capacitor in an electrical circuit is in the form of electrical potential energy.

Chemical potential energy is the energy stored in molecules. For example, dry wood stores chemical potential energy, which is released and converted into other forms of energy when the wood burns.

Nuclear potential energy comes from the atomic nucleus and elastic potential energy is the energy stored in an object due to its configuration, such as a stretched slingshot.