Potential Energy

Energy stored in height and springs

An interactive lesson with 7 steps, about 6 minutes: you predict, drag and solve, with instant feedback on every answer. It runs in your browser and needs JavaScript.

What you’ll learn

• Gravitational PE $= mgh$, measured from a zero level of your choice. Only changes in PE matter.
• Spring PE $= \tfrac12 k x^2$, the area under the force–compression graph.
• Potential energy is stored energy that can turn back into motion.

Steps

1. Lifting
2. Gravitational potential energy
3. Which zero?
4. High dive
5. Springs store energy too
6. Squash
7. Twice as far