What is stored energy referred to as?

Stored energy is referred to as potential energy. This form of energy is associated with the position or configuration of an object within a force field, such as gravitational, elastic, or electromagnetic forces. For instance, a rock perched at the edge of a cliff has gravitational potential energy due to its elevated position relative to the ground. Similarly, a compressed spring contains potential energy that is released when it returns to its original shape.

Understanding potential energy is crucial in various fields, including physics and engineering, as it helps to analyze energy transformations and systems in motion. In contrast to potential energy, kinetic energy is the energy of motion, thermal energy relates to the temperature and internal energy of a substance, and mechanical energy typically refers to the sum of kinetic and potential energy in a system.