Potential Energy
This knowledge is used in careers such as:
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Electrician (Installs & Repairs Electrical Systems in Buildings) ~$50,000 - $90,000 - Number of jobs: 820,000 (81,000 Openings Per Year) +9% Growth
Industrial Technician (Maintains & Repairs Machines) ~$50,000 - $75,000 - Number of jobs: 540,000 (54,000 Openings Per Year) +13% Growth
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Example:
Imagine you're holding a grocery bag at the top of a staircase, debating whether to carry it down or leave it for later. This decision is similar to the concept of potential energy because just as the bag has potential to move down the stairs, objects have energy stored due to their position or condition. In this case, the grocery bag is like a ball on a hill; both have energy ready to be released due to their elevated positions, and choosing when to release that energy—whether by carrying the bag down or letting the ball roll—is up to you.
Practice Version
Potential Energy: The energy an object has from its position or condition, like a ball on a hill or a stretched spring. Potential energy is stored energy that an object has due to its position or state, which can be released later.