Potential energy reading lowest to highest
The potential energy can be sorted from lowest to highest as follows:
1. Ground state: The lowest potential energy level where an object or system is at rest, with no additional energy or movement.
2. Atoms and molecules: Potential energy increases as the distance between atoms or molecules decreases. Therefore, the potential energy of individual atoms or molecules will increase as they move closer together.
3. Elastic potential energy: When an object is compressed or stretched, it stores potential energy. The potential energy of an object or system with elastic potential energy is higher when it is more compressed or stretched.
4. Chemical potential energy: Energy stored in chemical bonds. The potential energy of a chemical system depends on the types and arrangements of atoms and molecules in the system.
5. Gravitational potential energy: Objects at higher altitudes have greater potential energy due to their position relative to the Earth's gravitational field. The potential energy of an object or system increases as it is lifted higher above the Earth's surface.
6. Nuclear potential energy: The potential energy stored in the nucleus of an atom. Nuclear potential energy is released in nuclear reactions.
7. Electrical potential energy: The potential energy associated with the electric charges in a system. Like charges repel each other, increasing their potential energy, while opposite charges attract each other, decreasing their potential energy.