Why is potential energy referred to as energy of position?

Question

Why is potential energy referred to as energy of position?

Answer 1

When you lift a mass to a higher position you do work equal to the force x distance. That becomes energy of position; you can recover that energy when the mass returns to its starting point.

This strategy is sometimes used to store excess energy for later use by pumping water uphill to a pond, then letting it turn a generator when it's needed. The process is fairly efficient.

Answer 2

potential energy can refer to several things.  eg:

-- spring wound up tight.

-- compressed air.

-- a bow and arrow, ready to release.

but possibly the most common reference is to some weight ready to drop / fall.

and it's potential energy is related to it's position above the ground.

btw, next time, if you post a question like this in the science.physics section, you'll probably get an answer quicker.