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Compare and contrast gravitational and elastic potential energy, and give an example of each.

User Vince VD
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Answer:

See explanation

Step-by-step explanation:

Potential energy is the energy that is stored in an object due to its state, arrangement or position. It can also be described as any energy that has the potential to do work. The two types of potential energy are:

  1. Gravitational potential energy and
  2. Elastic potential energy

Differences are:

  • Gravitational potential energy emanates from the gravitational attraction between masses while Elastic potential energy emanates from the electrostatic repulsion between molecules and atoms.
  • Gravitational potential energy tries to pull the center of masses of objects very close while Elastic potential energy tries to keep atoms and molecules making up an object so as to maintain particle equilibrium.
  • Gravitational potential energy is the energy an object possesses due to its location in a gravitational field while Elastic potential energy is the energy an object gains after going through distortion.

Similarity is:

  • They are both types of potential energies making them have the potential to do work.

Examples of Gravitational potential energy:

  • A rock sitting at the edge of a cliff

Examples of Elastic potential energy:

  • A stretched elastic string in a bow.
User Helana
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