In his 1867 discussion of the same topic Rankine describes potential energy as 'energy of configuration' in contrast to actual energy as 'energy of activity'. Also in 1867, William Thomson introduced "kinetic energy" as the opposite of "potential energy", asserting that all actual energy took the form of ². Once this hypothesis became widely accepted, the term "actual energy" gradually faded.

Feature of conservative systems

Potential energy is closely linked with forces

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