Are potential energy and gravitational potential energy same?

AI Thread Summary
Gravitational potential energy is a specific type of potential energy, but they are not the same; potential energy encompasses various forms. Examples of potential energy include gravitational potential energy, stored mechanical energy (like in a compressed spring), chemical energy, and electrical energy associated with voltage. The discussion highlights that while gravitational potential energy is one form, other forms exist and can be compared. Participants emphasize the need to think broadly about energy types. Understanding these distinctions is crucial for grasping energy concepts in physics.
Rohit Mallya
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Are potential energy and gravitational potential energy same..??

Are potential energy and gravitational potential energy same..??:confused:
Please help me...!
 
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Rohit Mallya said:
Are potential energy and gravitational potential energy same..??:confused:
Please help me...!

Gravitational potential energy is one form of potential energy. Can you think of some other examples of potential energy?
 


hmm...
Compressed spring...!
water stored in a tank...!
 


Rohit Mallya said:
hmm...
Compressed spring...!
water stored in a tank...!

Correct on the spring. The water's PE is gravitational in nature.

There are still a couple others...
 


other examples..??
 


Rohit Mallya said:
other examples..??

Think!

Think of energy. What forms of energy are there? You've identified gravitational and stored mechanical (spring) energy -- what other ways are there to store energy?
 


chemical energy.
 


Rohit Mallya said:
chemical energy.

Good. The other one I was thinking of is electrical, like the potential energy associated with a voltage.
 


So Sir you mean to tell that gravitational potential energy and potential energy are proportional to each other?
 
  • #10


Rohit Mallya said:
So Sir you mean to tell that gravitational potential energy and potential energy are proportional to each other?

Gravitational potential energy is onve form of potential energy. There are other forms of potential energy, as we've discussed.
 

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