Thermodynamics Table of Contents

Potential energy (PE) is defined as the energy of position. Using English system units, it is defined by Equation 1-11.

In most practical engineering calculations, the acceleration due to gravity (g) is numerically equal to the gravitational constant (g_c); thus, the potential energy (PE) in foot-pounds-force is numerically equal to the product of the mass (m) in pounds-mass times the height (z) in feet above some reference level.

Example:

Determine the potential energy of 50 lbm of water in a storage tank 100 ft above the ground.

Solution:

Using Equation 1-11