Enter mass and height to find the gravitational potential energy stored in a raised object.
Gravitational Potential Energy Calculator
LiveThe formula
A 5 kg object raised 10 meters on Earth: PE = 5 x 9.8 x 10 = 490 joules.
Step-by-step guide
- Enter the object's mass and its height above a reference point.
- Select the gravity value for your context - Earth by default, or another body if relevant.
- Read the potential energy in joules.
Why "height" always needs a reference point
Gravitational potential energy is always measured relative to some chosen reference height - typically the ground or a table surface - since there's no single universal "zero" point in the way there is for some other physics quantities. This is why the same object can have different calculated potential energy values depending on what you choose as your reference, even though the physically meaningful quantity is usually the change in potential energy between two points, not any single absolute value.
Common mistakes
Frequently asked questions
How is gravitational PE related to kinetic energy?
As an object falls, its gravitational potential energy converts into kinetic energy - in the absence of air resistance, the total mechanical energy (PE + KE) stays constant throughout the fall, a classic example of energy conservation.
Why does the Moon have lower gravity than Earth?
Gravity depends on a body's mass and radius - the Moon is much less massive than Earth, resulting in roughly one-sixth the surface gravity, which is why the same object weighs far less there despite having identical mass.
Can gravitational potential energy be negative?
Yes, if an object is below your chosen reference height - a negative value simply means the object has less potential energy than something at the reference point, not that anything physically unusual is happening.
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