Which of the following best describes potential energy?

Potential energy is best described as energy that is stored due to an object's position or state. This form of energy relates directly to the position of an object in a force field, such as gravitational or elastic. For instance, when an object is elevated above the ground, it has gravitational potential energy due to its height. Similarly, a compressed spring stores elastic potential energy due to its deformation.

The essence of potential energy lies in its capacity to be converted into kinetic energy when the object's position changes. For example, when the elevated object falls, the potential energy it had is transformed into kinetic energy as it accelerates towards the ground. This demonstrates that potential energy is fundamentally about storage and position, which allows it to be released and transformed during movement or change.

In contrast, the other descriptions do not accurately encapsulate potential energy’s definition. Energy in motion pertains to kinetic energy, energy converted to heat interacts with both kinetic and potential forms, and the idea of energy that cannot be converted into kinetic energy misrepresents the potential energy's capacity for conversion under the right circumstances.