Example 1
Lifting a 10 kg object by 2 m with g = 9.81 m/s² gives PE = 10 × 9.81 × 2 = 196.2 J.
Mendeleev
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Physics tools › Gravitational potential energy
Mendeleev · Physics
Gravitational potential energy
Near Earth’s surface, raising an object stores gravitational potential energy. The reference level matters: height is measured relative to the level you choose as zero.
Formula usedPE = mgh
Calculate
Gravitational potential energy
What do the symbols mean?
PEgravitational potential energy
mmass
ggravitational field strength
hheight
Two worked examples
Example 2
A 70 kg person 12 m above the chosen reference level has about 8.24 kJ of gravitational potential energy.
Good to knowEnglish texts often use PE for gravitational potential energy in introductory problems.