Explain by an example what is meant by potential energy. Write down the expression for gravitational potential energy of a body of mass m placed at a height h above the surface of the earth.
Potential energy is defined as the energy possessed by a body due to its position.
For example; when a box is kept at a height, it possesses some energy because of its height. Because of this potential energy, object kept at a height falls over the ground.
Expression for Potential Energy is
P.E = mgh,
where m is mass ,
g is acceleration due to gravity and
h is the height .