Potential Energy

Abstract

YOUR correspondent “X.” has described some of his troubles respecting potential energy. Many a learner could describe similar troubles respecting force and energy in general. They who earnestly contend for definiteness and accuracy do not always teach with definiteness and accuracy. For example: in his “Treatise on Heat”, p. 137, Dr. Tyndall tells me that by raising a weight from the floor I have conferred upon the weight potential energy. Presently he tells me that this energy is derived (not from me, but) from the pull of gravity. He next tells me that we might call the energy with which the weight descends, moving force, i.e. he teaches me to confuse force and energy; and after all this he bids me remember that “exactness is here essential. We must not now tolerate vagueness in our conceptions”.