Gravitational Potential Energy
Gravitational potential energy is energy an object possesses because of its
position in a gravitational field. The most common use of gravitational
potential energy is for an object near the surface of the Earth where the
gravitational acceleration can be assumed to be constant at about 9.8
m/s2. Since the zero of gravitational potential energy can be
chosen at any point (like the choice of the zero of a coordinate system), the
potential energy at a height h above that point is equal to the work which
would be required to lift the object to that height with no net change in kinetic
energy. Since the force required to lift it is equal to its weight,
it follows that the gravitational potential energy is equal to its weight times
the height to which it is lifted.
position in a gravitational field. The most common use of gravitational
potential energy is for an object near the surface of the Earth where the
gravitational acceleration can be assumed to be constant at about 9.8
m/s2. Since the zero of gravitational potential energy can be
chosen at any point (like the choice of the zero of a coordinate system), the
potential energy at a height h above that point is equal to the work which
would be required to lift the object to that height with no net change in kinetic
energy. Since the force required to lift it is equal to its weight,
it follows that the gravitational potential energy is equal to its weight times
the height to which it is lifted.