What term describes the energy stored in an object due to its position?

Study for the PLTW Principles of Engineering Exam. Dive into flashcards and multiple choice questions with detailed explanations to ace your exam. Prepare confidently!

The term that describes the energy stored in an object due to its position is potential energy. Potential energy is the energy that an object possesses because of its location relative to other objects. For example, an object raised above the ground has gravitational potential energy due to its height and the gravitational force acting upon it. When the object is released, this stored energy can convert into kinetic energy as it falls.

Kinetic energy, on the other hand, is the energy of motion. It depends on the mass and velocity of an object. Electrical energy refers to the energy derived from electric potential or the movement of charged particles, while thermal energy is related to the internal energy of a system due to the kinetic energy of its particles. Each of these forms of energy plays a distinct role in different physical processes, but potential energy specifically correlates to the energy due to an object's position.

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