Potential generally refers to a currently unrealizedability. The term is used in a wide variety of fields, fromphysics to thesocial sciences to indicate things that are in a state where they are able to change in ways ranging from the simple release of energy by objects to the realization of abilities in people.
ThephilosopherAristotle incorporated this concept into his theory ofpotentiality and actuality (in Greek,dynamis andenergeia), translated into Latin aspotentia andactualitas (earlier alsopossibilitas andefficacia).[1] a pair of closely connected principles which he used to analyzemotion,causality,ethics, andphysiology in hisPhysics,Metaphysics,Nicomachean Ethics, andDe Anima, which is about the humanpsyche.[2] That which is potential can theoretically be made actual by taking the right action; for example, a boulder on the edge of a cliff has potential to fall that could be actualized by pushing it over the edge.
In physics, a potential may refer to thescalar potential or to thevector potential. In either case, it is a field defined in space, from which many important physical properties may be derived. Leading examples are thegravitational potential and theelectric potential, from which the motion of gravitating or electrically charged bodies may be obtained. Specific forces have associated potentials, including theCoulomb potential, thevan der Waals potential, theLennard-Jones potential[3][4] and theYukawa potential. In electrochemistry there areGalvani potential,Volta potential,electrode potential, andstandard electrode potential. In thethermodynamics, the termpotential often refers tothermodynamic potential.[5]
"Potential" comes from the Latin wordpotentialis, frompotentia = might, force, power, and hence ability, faculty, capacity, authority, influence. From the verbposse = to be able, to have power. From the adjectivepotis = able, capable. (The old form of the verb was a compound of the adjective and the verb "to be", e.g. forpossum it waspotis sum, etc.) The Latin wordpotis is cognate with the Sanskrit wordpatis = "lord".[6]
Several languages have apotential mood, a grammatical construction which indicates that something is in a potential as opposed to actual state. These includeFinnish,[7]Japanese,[8] andSanskrit.[9]
