Gravitational Potential Energy Calculator
Enter an object's mass and height above a reference point to calculate its gravitational potential energy.
Gravitational Potential Energy Calculator
Calculates the gravitational potential energy of an object at a given height above a reference point.
This calculator uses the standard formula PE = mgh to find gravitational potential energy, multiplying mass by Earth's standard gravitational acceleration (9.8 m/s²) and by height above whatever reference point you choose. It's a foundational physics calculation used throughout mechanics — for example when analyzing energy conservation as an object falls, converting potential energy into kinetic energy along the way.
Example
- With the default values shown above, this calculator returns: Gravitational Potential Energy ≈ 490 J.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the formula used?
Gravitational potential energy is PE = mgh, where m is mass, g is gravitational acceleration (9.8 m/s² on Earth), and h is height above the chosen reference level.
What reference point should I measure height from?
Any consistent reference point works — the ground, a table top, sea level — since potential energy is always relative to wherever you choose as the zero-height reference.
Sources
- Standard formula, publicly documented method