What is potential energy? What are its different types? Show that gravitational potential energy is equal to the product of mass ‘m’, gravitational field strength ‘g’, and height ‘h’.

Potential energy is the energy stored in an object due to its position or configuration. The most common types of potential energy are:

1. Gravitational potential energy: Energy due to the height of an object in a gravitational field.
2. Elastic potential energy: Energy stored in stretched or compressed springs or elastic materials.
3. Chemical potential energy: Energy stored in the bonds of chemical compounds.

The gravitational potential energy $U$ of an object at height $h$ above the Earth’s surface is given by:

U=mgh

Where:

• $m$ is the mass of the object,
• $g$ is the gravitational field strength (approximately 9.8 m/s² on Earth),
• $h$ is the height above the reference point.

This equation shows that gravitational potential energy is directly proportional to the mass of the object, the gravitational field strength, and the height of the object above the reference point.