Which term describes energy stored due to position or configuration?

• A. Stored Energy
• B. Kinetic Energy
• C. Potential Energy
• D. Chemical Energy

Answer: (C)

Energy stored due to position or configuration is called potential energy. It depends on where something is in a force field or how it’s arranged, and it has the potential to do work when the position or arrangement changes. For example, a rock on a hill has gravitational potential energy because gravity could do work if it rolls downward. A stretched spring or a drawn bow stores elastic or mechanical potential energy in its stretched or compressed state. When the position or configuration changes, that stored energy can convert to other forms, like kinetic energy—the energy of motion. While chemical energy is a form of stored energy tied to the arrangement of atoms, the general term for energy stored because of position or configuration is potential energy.