Created By : Naaz Fatima

Reviewed By : Rajashekhar Valipishetty

Last Updated : May 10, 2023


Use user-friendly and free Potential Energy Calculator tool to compute the amount of stored energy of an elevated object. Students have to provide the mass of the object, acceleration due to gravity and height and press the calculate button to get the output quickly and easily.

Ex: 10, 167, 48, 34.5 or 90

Mass:
Grav. acceleration:
height:
Potential energy:

How to Calculate Potential Energy?

The following are the simple and useful steps to get the gravitational potential energy of a body.

  • Make a note of the mass of the body and height from the questions.
  • The acceleration due to gravity constant value is 9.8 m/sec²
  • Multiply the acceleration gue to gravity, body mass and height.
  • The obtained product is called potential energy.

Gravitational Potential Energy Formula

Potential energy is the stored energy of a body and it is generated by its position. It is also known as gravitational potential energy or mechanical energy.

The formula to calculate the potential energy is

Potential energy = mgh

Here, m is the mass of the body

g is the acceleration due to gravity.

h is the height.

Example

Question: An object of mass 50 kgs is placed on a hill top of height 100 m. What is the potential energy processed by the object?

Solution:

Given that

Mass of the object m = 50 kgs

Height of the object h = 100 m

Acceleration due to gravity g = 9.8 m/sec²

Potential Energy = mgh

P.E = 50 x 9.8 x 100

= 4900

Therefore, the potential energy is 4900 J.

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FAQ's on Gravitational Potential Energy

1. What are the examples of potential energy?

Potential energy is the energy stored by an object as a result of its position. The examples of gravittaional potential energy are a raised weight, river water at the top of the waterfall, book on the table before it falls, etc.


2. Write the differences between potential energy and kinetic energy?

Potential energy is the energy possessed by an object by virtue of its state nad example is water at the top of the waterfall before the precipice. Kinetic energy is the energy possessed by a body by virtue of its movement and example is flowing water when falling from a waterfall. The types of kinetic energy are translational kinetic energy, rotational kinetic energy. Potential energy types are gravitational potential energy, chemical potential energy, elastic potential energy, nuclear potential energy, electrical potential energy.


3. How Does height affect potential energy?

Gravitational potential energy is directly proportional to the object height above the zero position. So, doubling the height will double the energy.


4. How do you find mass with height and potential energy?

We know that the formula of potential energy is P.E = mgh

Mass = Potential Energy/gh

Here, g is the acceleration due to gravity

h is the object height.


5. What is the SI unit of potential energy?

The SI unit of potential energy is joule (J).