Which of the following best describes potential energy?

Potential energy is best described as energy stored due to an object's position or arrangement. This type of energy is dependent on the object's location in a force field, such as gravity. For example, when an object is held at a height, it has gravitational potential energy due to its position relative to the ground. Similarly, in a spring or elastic system, energy is stored based on the arrangement of the components. This stored energy has the potential to do work when the object moves or the arrangement changes.

In contrast, energy due to motion refers to kinetic energy, which is not applicable here as it describes active movement rather than stored energy. The concept of energy resulting from an object's mass typically relates to mass-energy equivalence (as described by Einstein's equation E=mc²), which is more complex and not a direct descriptor of potential energy. Lastly, energy transferred in the form of heat pertains to thermal energy and heat transfer, which again does not align with the function of potential energy as it focuses on energy transitions rather than stored energy in a static state.