Potential Energy

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Potential Energy, stored energy possessed by a system as a result of the relative positions of the components of that system. For example, if a ball is held above the ground, the system comprising the ball and the earth has a certain amount of potential energy; lifting the ball higher increases the amount of potential energy the system possesses. Other examples of systems having potential energy include a stretched rubber band, and a pair of magnets held together so that the like poles are touching.

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