UPCAT Science Practice Test

Energy stored due to an object's shape or position is referred to as potential energy. This type of energy is fundamentally related to the configuration of an object within a force field, such as gravitational or elastic forces. For example, a drawn bow possesses potential energy due to its shape, while an object held at a height has gravitational potential energy because of its position in a gravitational field.

Potential energy is different from kinetic energy, which is the energy of motion, and does not involve stored energy from an object’s position or shape. Radiant energy pertains to energy carried by electromagnetic waves, such as light, while electrical energy involves the flow of electric charge. Thus, potential energy is the only option that accurately describes energy linked to an object's shape or positional context.