Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Forces and potential energy are two fundamental concepts in physics. Forces refer to the push or pull on an object, while potential energy is the stored energy that an object possesses due to its position or condition.
Related terms
Work: Work is done when a force causes displacement in the direction of that force.
Kinetic Energy: Kinetic energy is the energy possessed by an object due to its motion.
Conservation of Mechanical Energy: This principle states that in a closed system, mechanical energy (the sum of kinetic and potential energies) remains constant if no external forces act on it.