Question

Which of the following is an example of potential energy?

• A. .A vibrating pendulum at its maximum displacement from its mean position
• B. A body at rest from some height from the ground.
• C. A wound clock spring.
• D. A vibrating pendulum when it is just passing through its mean position

Answer 1

The correct option is D

A vibrating pendulum when it is just passing through its mean position

Explanation of the correct option

In the case of option D,

1. Potential energy is the energy possessed by an object as a virtue of its position in relation to other objects.
2. At the mean location of the pendulum, potential energy is lowest while kinetic energy is highest (at equilibrium).
3. A pendulum will have potential energy whenever it is raised above its mean (base) position. The height from the mean position is zero while the pendulum is traveling through the mean position. As a result, at the mean position, a vibrating pendulum has no potential energy.

Step 2: Explanation for the incorrect options

In the case of option A,

1. The maximum displacement or distance moved by a point on a vibrating body or wave from its equilibrium position is called amplitude.
2. At this position, the pendulum will have potential energy.

In the case of option B,

1. When the body is at rest at some height from the ground, it will have zero kinetic energy, but it will have potential energy by virtue of its position.
2. Thus, the potential energy is stored in the body at rest at a particular height $\mathrm{h}$ from the ground.

In the case of option C,

1. A wound spring has the ability to store potential energy.
2. The spring is devoid of kinetic energy until it is freed and begins to move.
3. As a result, the spring stores energy in the form of elastic potential energy, which it then distributes to the moving parts in the form of kinetic energy when it is unwound.

Hence, the option is (D) is correct