Gravitational Potential Energy
Calculate the gravitational potential energy of an object at height h (PE = mgh).
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FAQs
What is the reference level for height?
Height h is measured from a reference level that you define — typically the ground, table top, or any convenient zero point. GPE is relative, not absolute. Only changes in GPE matter physically. What counts as 'zero height' depends on the problem context.
How does GPE relate to hydroelectric power?
Hydroelectric dams store water at height, converting it to gravitational potential energy. When water flows down through turbines, GPE converts to kinetic energy of moving water, then to rotational energy of turbines, then to electrical energy. The power output = mgh × flow rate × efficiency.
What happens to potential energy when an object falls?
As an object falls, height decreases so GPE decreases. By conservation of energy, this lost GPE converts to kinetic energy (in the absence of air resistance): mgh = ½mv². This gives the velocity at any height during free fall: v = √(2gh).