What is Potential: Definition and 1000 Discussions

Potential generally refers to a currently unrealized ability. The term is used in a wide variety of fields, from physics to the social sciences to indicate things that are in a state where they are able to change in ways ranging from the simple release of energy by objects to the realization of abilities in people. The philosopher Aristotle incorporated this concept into his theory of potentiality and actuality, a pair of closely connected principles which he used to analyze motion, causality, ethics, and physiology in his aPhysics, Metaphysics, Nicomachean Ethics and De Anima, which is about the human psyche. That which is potential can theoretically be made actual by taking the right action; for example, a boulder on the edge of a cliff has potential to fall that could be actualized by pushing it over the edge. Several languages have a potential mood, a grammatical construction that indicates that something is potential. These include Finnish, Japanese, and Sanskrit.In physics, a potential may refer to the scalar potential or to the vector potential. In either case, it is a field defined in space, from which many important physical properties may be derived. Leading examples are the gravitational potential and the electric potential, from which the motion of gravitating or electrically charged bodies may be obtained. Specific forces have associated potentials, including the Coulomb potential, the van der Waals potential, the Lennard-Jones potential and the Yukawa potential. In electrochemistry there are Galvani potential, Volta potential, electrode potential, and standard electrode potential. In the
thermodynamics, the term potential often refers to thermodynamic potential.

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  1. V

    Kinetic & Potential Energy of a Pendulum

    When the pendulum is released, the Kinetic Energy should be 0. When the pendulum is at the bottom/hits the rod, it should have 0 potential energy. However, I don't quite understand what happens after it hits the rod.
  2. simphysics

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  3. M

    Engineering Spring Deformation: Potential Energy Balance Incorrect?

    In the initial position the spring is previously compressed, then the block adds a force, and the spring is again deformed. I think the energy balance is incorrect; the potential energy of the spring is repeated.
  4. kara123

    V/I: Power from Potential Difference & Current

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  5. A

    Gravitational potential energy traveling from earth to mars

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  6. bluesteels

    Does work = neg or pos change in potential energy?

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  7. J

    I When does an even potential give both even and odd solutions to Schrodinger's Eqn?

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  8. patric44

    Potential of a charged ring in terms of Legendre polynomials

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  9. D

    Engineering What is the significance of a -4V gate potential in FET-transistors?

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  10. V

    Potential on each of these concentric spherical shells

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  11. H

    Potential energy, Wave function, Quantum physics

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  12. ergospherical

    I System, potential energy, and nonconservative forces: The whole story

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  13. F

    I System, potential energy, and nonconservative forces

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  14. san12345

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  15. P

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  16. H

    I Image for increase in gravitational potential energy in radial field

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  17. E

    What is the definition of potential energy of a system?

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  18. patric44

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  19. R

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  20. chikchok

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  21. A

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  22. stephen8686

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  23. Hamiltonian

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  24. guyvsdcsniper

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  25. F

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  26. Tertius

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  27. Ugnius

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  28. Gustav

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  29. guyvsdcsniper

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  30. Anonymous243

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  31. A

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  32. guyvsdcsniper

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  33. Gustav

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  34. Danimal

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  35. F

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  36. R

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  37. V

    Confusing definition of electrical potential energy

    If the book had said that electrical potential energy is the negative of work done by electrical force on a charge, then the definition would be very clear and easy to understand. So, why should the book give this confusing definition instead.
  38. S

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  39. R

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  40. T

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  41. ergospherical

    I Gravitational potential of an ellipsoid

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  42. M

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  43. P

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  44. F

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  45. T

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  46. juardilag

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  47. J

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  48. LCSphysicist

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  49. P

    I Confusion over the "centrifugal potential energy"

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  50. Leo Liu

    Equation connecting potential and potential energy of a distribution

    The equation below allows us to calculate the potential energy of a continuous distribution of electric charge. $$U=\frac {\epsilon_0} 2 \iiint\limits_\text{Entire electric field}\vec E^2\,dV$$ In my textbook, the author states $$U=\frac 1 {8\pi\epsilon_0}\iiint\limits_\text{Entire electric...
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