Final answer:
Potential energy is the energy an object has due to its position relative to other objects. Gravitational potential energy, for instance, is the energy an object has due to its position in a gravitational field.
Step-by-step explanation:
Potential energy is the energy an object has due to its position relative to other objects that it interacts with. There are different kinds of potential energy such as gravitational potential energy, chemical potential energy, and electrical potential energy. Gravitational potential energy, for example, is the energy an object has due to its position in a gravitational field relative to some reference point. This type of potential energy can be calculated using the formula PE = mgh, where m is the mass of the object, g is the acceleration due to gravity, and h is the height or distance above a reference point.