Which of the following best defines potential energy?

The definition of potential energy is best represented by the concept of energy that is stored and has the potential to do work at a later time. In the context of a battery, it stores chemical energy that can be converted into electrical energy when used. This energy is not currently being used to perform work, but it can be released to power devices when conditions allow it.

Potential energy can also be illustrated through various examples, such as a raised object that has the potential to fall due to gravity or a spring that can do work when released from a compressed state. However, the most direct and clear representation of potential energy in a practical context is the energy stored in a battery, as it exemplifies the storage of energy with the capacity for future conversion and use.

Understanding potential energy in terms of its stored nature versus its active state in motion helps clarify why a battery serves as an apt representation of this concept, distinctly contrasting with the other options which relate to energy in motion or through heat transfer.