Potential Energy Calculator
Find the gravitational potential energy stored by an object raised to a given height.
kg
m
0.4903 kJ
9.80665 m/s²
Formula
Examples
| Input | Result |
|---|---|
| m = 5 kg, h = 10 m | PE ≈ 490.33 J |
About this calculator
Gravitational potential energy is the energy an object stores by virtue of its position in a gravitational field. Near Earth’s surface it is given by PE = m × g × h, where m is mass in kilograms, g is the standard acceleration due to gravity (9.80665 m/s²) and h is the vertical height in metres, giving energy in joules.
This stored energy can be converted into kinetic energy as the object falls — at the bottom of an unobstructed drop, all the potential energy becomes kinetic energy (ignoring air resistance). The reference height where PE is taken as zero is arbitrary; only differences in height between two points are physically meaningful.
Frequently asked questions
Gravitational potential energy is PE = m × g × h, using mass in kilograms, g = 9.80665 m/s² and height in metres to get joules.
It uses standard gravity, g = 9.80665 m/s², the internationally defined average value at Earth’s surface.
Only the change in height matters physically. You can choose any convenient zero level (such as the ground or a tabletop) and measure height from there.
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