Electric Potential Energy

Question

What are three examples of how electric potential energy is stored and can be used?

Answer 1

Electrostatic--eg in a capacitor

Chemical--eg in a battery

"Dynamic"---covers a variety of things that involve current and the resultant magnetic field. Examples:

--a flywheel mounted to a motor/generator

--automotive ignition coil

--a choke in a power supply (stores energy for part of the AC cycle)

Answer 2

We are all familiar with one of the most common forms of potential energy, the battery. A battery stores potential energy for later use.

A second form of potential energy comes from capacitors, which hold charge until needed. Capacitors are used for a variety of reasons. On computer circuit boards, capacitors are near each electronic device as a power filter to that device. When the power coming into the device starts to run down, the capacitor supplies charge to help maintain the supply voltage at a consistent level.

Inductors also store electrical energy, in the form of current. Although less often used than capacitors, they are useful in certain applications. Just as capacitors hold charge, inductors hold current. It turns out that surge protectors, often used for computers or other electrical equipment, utilize inductors to maintain a constant current into the device. When a current surge, such as a result of a lightning strike, comes down the power line, the inductor will absorb the initial shock of the strike. The inductor will attempt to maintain the power level (i.e. current level) going into the device.

So, as you can see potential energy devices are useful in our everyday lives.