What defines potential energy?

Potential energy is defined as the energy that an object possesses due to its position or configuration in a force field, such as gravitational or elastic fields. This type of energy is relative and is often associated with the height of an object above a reference point (in the case of gravitational potential energy) or the deformation of an object (such as a compressed spring for elastic potential energy).

Understanding potential energy in this way allows one to recognize that it is not dependent on the motion of the object; rather, it is linked to where the object is located or how it is arranged relative to other objects. For instance, when an object is lifted to a higher position, it stores potential energy which can be converted to kinetic energy when it falls back down. This concept is foundational in physics and helps explain various mechanical systems and energy transformations.