▁in ▁space . ▁These ▁forces , ▁that ▁are ▁called ▁conserv ative ▁forces , ▁can ▁be ▁represented ▁at ▁every ▁point ▁in ▁space ▁by ▁vectors ▁expressed ▁as ▁grad ients ▁of ▁a ▁certain ▁scalar ▁function ▁called ▁potential . ▁ ▁Since ▁the ▁work ▁of ▁potential ▁forces ▁acting ▁on ▁a ▁body ▁that ▁moves ▁from ▁a ▁start ▁to ▁an ▁end ▁position ▁is ▁determined ▁only ▁by ▁these ▁two ▁positions , ▁and ▁does ▁not ▁depend ▁on ▁the ▁traject ory ▁of ▁the ▁body , ▁there ▁is ▁a ▁function ▁known ▁as ▁potential ▁that ▁can ▁be ▁evaluated ▁at ▁the ▁two ▁positions ▁to ▁determine ▁this ▁work . ▁ ▁Over view ▁There ▁are ▁various ▁types ▁of ▁potential ▁energy , ▁each ▁associated ▁with ▁a ▁particular ▁type ▁of ▁force . ▁For ▁example , ▁the ▁work ▁of ▁an ▁el astic ▁force ▁is ▁called ▁el astic ▁potential ▁energy ; ▁work ▁of ▁the ▁gravit ational ▁force ▁is ▁called ▁gravit ational ▁potential ▁energy ; ▁work ▁of ▁the ▁C oul omb ▁force ▁is ▁called ▁electric ▁potential ▁energy ; ▁work ▁of ▁the ▁strong ▁nuclear ▁force ▁or ▁weak ▁nuclear ▁force ▁acting ▁on ▁the ▁b ary on ▁charge ▁is ▁called ▁nuclear ▁potential ▁energy ; ▁work ▁of ▁inter m ole cular ▁forces ▁is ▁called ▁inter m ole cular ▁potential ▁energy . ▁Chem ical ▁potential ▁energy , ▁such ▁as ▁the ▁energy ▁stored ▁in ▁foss il ▁fu els , ▁is ▁the ▁work ▁of ▁the ▁C oul omb ▁force ▁during ▁re arr ang ement ▁of ▁configurations ▁of ▁electrons ▁and ▁nuc lei ▁in ▁atoms ▁and ▁mole cules . ▁Th erm al ▁energy ▁usually ▁has ▁two ▁components : ▁the ▁kin etic ▁energy