Which term describes energy stored in an object due to its position?

• A. Mechanical Energy
• B. Potential energy
• C. Chemical energy
• D. Entropy

Answer: (B)

Energy stored due to an object's position is potential energy. This type of energy exists when an object is raised in a gravitational field or when a system is arranged in a way that could do work later. The higher the object, the more gravitational potential energy it has (conceptually mgh). When released, that energy can convert into kinetic energy—the energy of motion. Elastic potential energy works the same way for a compressed spring or stretched rubber band. In contrast, chemical energy is stored in bonds between atoms, and entropy relates to disorder in a system; mechanical energy refers to the sum of kinetic and potential energies.