What type of energy is stored in a body as a result of its position due to height?

Gravitational potential energy is defined as the energy stored in an object due to its position relative to the ground or a reference point. This type of energy depends on two main factors: the mass of the object and its height above a reference point, typically the Earth's surface. The higher an object is placed, the more gravitational potential energy it possesses, as it has the potential to do work due to the force of gravity acting on it.

For example, if you lift a ball to a shelf, you are increasing its height, and therefore, increasing its gravitational potential energy. If the ball were to fall, that stored energy would be converted into kinetic energy as it accelerates towards the ground.

This concept is crucial in understanding how energy can transform from one form to another, particularly in processes involving movement and height.