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Question
What is the difference between gravitational potential energy and elastic potential energy? Give one example of a body having gravitational potential energy and another having elastic potential energy.
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Solution
We can differentiate between gravitational and elastic potential energy as -
| Gravitational potential energy | Elastic potential energy |
| A body possesses gravitational potential energy if it is placed any height above the ground. (ground is considered as the refence level) | A body possesses elastic potential energy if its shape is changed by squeezing, pushing or pulling. |
| Gravitational force is responsible for this energy. | Elastic property of the body is responsible for this energy. |
Example:
(i) Gravitational potential energy - A book kept on a table possesses gravitational potential energy because of its position above the ground.
(ii) Elastic potential energy - The stretched rubber string of a catapult possesses elastic potential energy because of the change in shape of the string.
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