Noun
the mechanical energy that a body has by virtue of its position; stored energy
Source: WordNetAll potential energy exists in the ether. It may vibrate, and it may rotate, but as regards locomotion it is stationary-the most stationary body we know: absolutely stationary, so to speak; our standard of rest. Oliver Lodge
A conservative force is one that has a potential energy function. Source: Internet
Activation energy can be thought of as the height of the potential barrier (sometimes called the energy barrier) separating two minima of potential energy (of the reactants and products of a reaction). Source: Internet
All of the elements heavier than iron have some potential energy to release, in theory. Source: Internet
A hypervelocity railgun works very much like a particle accelerator insofar as it converts electrical potential energy into kinetic energy imparted to the projectile. Source: Internet
Another practical use is utilizing gravitational potential energy to descend (perhaps coast) downhill in transportation such as the descent of an automobile, truck, railroad train, bicycle, airplane, or fluid in a pipeline. Source: Internet