Potential Energy Calculator
Calculate gravitational potential energy from mass, height, and gravity — and solve for any one of the three.
Default: Earth's gravity (9.8 m/s²)
Potential Energy
490.0000 J
PE = m × g × h = 10 × 9.8 × 5 = 490.0000 J
How to Calculate Gravitational Potential Energy
Gravitational potential energy is the energy an object has because of its height above a reference point, equal to its mass times the gravitational acceleration times its height. This calculator solves for any one of potential energy, mass, or height given the other two, using standard SI units.
Example
A 10 kg object held 5 meters above the ground has a potential energy of PE = 10 × 9.8 × 5 = 490 joules, using Earth's standard gravitational acceleration of 9.8 m/s². On the Moon (g ≈ 1.62 m/s²), the same object at the same height would have far less potential energy: 10 × 1.62 × 5 = 81 joules.
Common Use Cases
- Physics homework covering gravitational potential energy.
- Estimating the energy released when an object falls from a given height.
- Comparing potential energy under different gravitational accelerations, such as other planets.
FAQs
Why is gravity adjustable?
Earth's standard gravity (9.8 m/s², sometimes rounded to 9.81) is the default, but gravitational acceleration differs elsewhere — about 1.62 m/s² on the Moon and 3.71 m/s² on Mars — so making it adjustable lets you calculate potential energy anywhere.
What reference point does height use?
Height is measured relative to whatever reference point you choose, such as the ground or a table surface — potential energy is always relative, so what matters is the height difference between the object's position and that reference point.
How is this related to kinetic energy?
As an object falls, its potential energy converts into kinetic energy. Ignoring air resistance, the potential energy lost equals the kinetic energy gained, which is the basis of the conservation of mechanical energy in physics.