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Physics

Potential Energy

The energy associated with the configuration of a system in which conservative force acts is potential energy. Let us consider a system of a body and earth in which the body falls from some height. The work done by the gravity (conservative force) is positive. The body will achieve the state of lower potential energy w.r.t its initial potential energy at some height. Thus we can say that work done by conservative force is equal to the decrease in potential energy of the system.Therefore,