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Change categories to be mechanics and energy
'''Potential energy''' is [[energy]] that is stored in an object, such as the energy in a [[roller coaster]] train at the peak of its lift [[hill]].<ref>Wile, Jay L. ''Exploring Creation With Chemistry''. Apologia Educational Ministries, Inc. 1998</ref>
'''Potential energy''' is [[energy]] that is stored in an object. An example is gravitational potential energy such as that of a roller coaster train at the peak of its lift [[hill]].<ref>Wile, Jay L. ''Exploring Creation With Chemistry''. Apologia Educational Ministries, Inc. 1998</ref>
The formula for gravitational potential energy for two point masses is:
:<math>V = -\frac{GMm}{r}</math>
where
:<math>G</math> is Newton's [[gravitational constant]]
:<math>M</math> and <math>m</math> are the [[mass (science)|masses]] of the two particles
:<math>r</math> is their separation
If one particle moves a radial distance (towards or away) from the other a distance <math>\Delta h</math> and <math>\Delta h \ll r</math>, then the change in potential <math>\Delta E</math> can be approximated by
:<math>\Delta E = mg \, \Delta h</math>
where <math>g</math> is the gravitational field strength in the vicinity of the initial and final points.
==See also==
*[[Kinetic Energy]]
==References==
==References==
<references/>
<references/>
[[category:physics]]
[[Category:Energy]]
[[Category:Mechanics]]