I'm trying to wrap my head around this (what is probably very simple) physics question. If I have a pound (unit of weight), and let it hang, the amount of force (potential energy) the gravitational pull has is 1 lb. Question #1 is how does this equate to a foot pound? Are they equivalent?

So as the pound applies force on whatever it hangs from, or whatever it sits on, it is constantly applying 1 lb of force to that thing.

In what way would the 1 lb of gravity relate to a measure of "foot pounds" of energy? Would the hanging / resting bag need to move a full 1 ft (as it is pulled by the gravitational field) in order to fulfill this measure of energy? Or is it simply enough to apply the force to get that amount of energy out of it?

Please don't be too harsh :) I'm just a tech guy. Physics is not my strong suit obviously...