potential

潜在能力、将来性

将来、優れたものになったり成功したりできる力。

やさしい英語で： The ability to become very good or successful in the future.

• This young player shows potential.
• Her teacher helped her reach her full potential.
• The team has plenty of potential but needs experience.

使い方： potential to do something (He has the potential to become a fine writer.)

類義語： promise

よく使う表現： show potential, full potential, realize potential, have potential

可能性

何かが起きたり、特定の結果を生み出したりする見込み。

やさしい英語で： The possibility that something will happen or that something will cause a particular result.

• There is potential for further damage.
• The new system has the potential to reduce waste.
• They discussed the potential for conflict.

使い方： potential for something (The agreement creates potential for growth.); potential to do something (This change has the potential to save lives.)

類義語： possibility, capacity

よく使う表現： potential for something, have potential, great potential

電位差、電圧

回路の二点間における、電荷の単位量あたりの電気エネルギーの差。

やさしい英語で： The difference in electrical energy per unit of charge between two points in a circuit.

• We measured the potential across the battery.
• The potential difference was twelve volts.
• A meter showed a change in electrical potential.

類義語： voltage, potential difference

よく使う表現： electrical potential, potential difference, measure potential

重力ポテンシャル

空間のある点での重力の影響を表す量。

やさしい英語で： A quantity describing the effect of gravity at a point in space.

• The model describes the gravitational potential around the planet.
• The potential changes with distance from the mass.
• Students calculated the potential at the surface.

類義語： gravitational potential

よく使う表現： gravitational potential, Newtonian potential, calculate potential

潜在的な、可能性のある

まだ実現していないが、将来起きたり存在したりする可能性がある。

やさしい英語で： Possible in the future, although it has not happened or become real yet.

• We contacted a potential customer.
• The report lists several potential risks.
• She explained the potential benefits of the changes.

類義語： possible

反対語： actual

よく使う表現： potential customer, potential problem, potential benefit, potential threat