Potential Energy Calculator
Calculate gravitational potential energy (PE = mgh)
Calculator
PE = mgh = 10 kg × 9.81 m/s² × 10 m = 981.0000 J
Energy in kJ
0.9810
Height in feet
32.81
Gravitational Potential Energy
- PE = mgh (Potential Energy)
- m = PE / (gh) (Mass)
- h = PE / (mg) (Height)
- g (Earth) = 9.81 m/s²
- Energy is relative to reference point (ground)
How to Use
Calculate gravitational potential energy from mass and height
Enter mass
Input the object's mass in kilograms
Enter height
Input the height above the reference point in meters
Select gravity
Choose Earth gravity or select another planet/moon
View energy
See the potential energy in Joules
Potential Energy
PE = m x g x h
Potential Energy equals mass times gravity times height.
Frequently Asked Questions
Gravitational potential energy is stored energy based on an object's height above a reference point. Calculated as PE = mgh, where m is mass, g is gravitational acceleration (9.81 m/s squared on Earth), and h is height. A book on a shelf has potential energy that converts to kinetic energy when it falls.
Potential energy is directly proportional to height. Doubling the height doubles the potential energy. This is why water towers store energy - water at height has potential energy that provides pressure when it flows down.
As an object falls, potential energy converts to kinetic energy while total mechanical energy stays constant (in absence of friction). At the bottom, all potential energy has become kinetic energy. This is the conservation of energy principle.
The g value changes: Moon (1.62 m/s squared), Mars (3.71 m/s squared), Jupiter (24.79 m/s squared). An object at the same height has less potential energy on the Moon and more on Jupiter. Our calculator includes presets for different celestial bodies.