When two objects interact with each other in a collision, each object exerts a force on the other object, and energy may be transferred. Energy can be stored in an object by lifting the object to a certain height. This energy is called gravitational potential energy. The gravitational potential energy of an object depends on how heavy the object is and how high it is. The heavier an object is, the more gravitational potential energy it has, and the higher an object is, the more gravitational potential energy it has.
Potential energy is stored energy.
If an object is very heavy and is located at a certain height, it will have more stored energy than a lighter object at the same height. Since the bowling ball is heavier than a tennis ball, it has more stored energy. This energy, while falling, is converted to the energy of motion, or kinetic energy. Secondly, the higher an object is, the more stored energy it will have. This can be shown by the fact that jumping off a chair is relatively harmless, but jumping off of a building is ill-advised.