Potential Energy This is the amount of energy contained in an object at rest.
Example: A flowerpot with a mass of 15 kg is sitting on a windowsill 15 meters above the ground. How much potential energy does the flowerpot contain? PE = (mass) (gravity)(height) = (15 kg)(9.8 m/s)(15 m) = (147kg)(15m/s) = 2205 kg X m/s =2205 joules
Try for yourself!
1. A bicycle with a mass of 14 kg traveling at a velocity of 3.0 m/s east has how much kinetic energy?
2. If the flowerpot is lowered to a windowsill 10 meters from the ground, what is the potential energy now?