Gravitational potential energy
Gravitational potential energy (GPE) is a type of energy possessed by an object when it moves from one height to a different height when the object is present in a gravitational field. Gravitational energy is a type of energy that is present because of gravity. Suppose you take two pencils. One pencil is kept on the ground. Another pencil is kept at a table. The pencil on the table will have more gravitational potential energy (GPE) because it is kept at a greater height.
The formula for calculating GPE is Mgh, where M is the mass, g is the gravitational acceleration, and h is the height the object has risen.
How to find gravitational potential energy?
Suppose a pencil of mass 0.5kg is risen to a height of 5 meters. What is the gravitational potential energy that the pencil possesses? Take g to be 10 meters per second squared.
- Putting it into the equation, mgh = 0.5x10x5 = 25 joules.
Suppose a ball of mass 0.5kg has risen to a height of 6 meters. What is the gravitational potential energy that the pencil possesses? Take g to be 10 meters per second squared.
- Putting it into the equation, mgh = 0.5x10x6 = 30 joules.
Suppose an iron of mass 0.4kg has risen to a height of 7 meters. What is the gravitational potential energy that the pencil possesses? Take g to be 10 meters per second squared.
- Putting it into the equation, mgh = 0.4x10x7 = 28 joules.
Suppose a clock of mass 0.7kg has risen to a height of 5 meters. What is the gravitational potential energy that the pencil possesses? Take g to be 10 meters per second squared.
- Putting it into the equation, mgh = 0.7x10x5 = 35 joules.
Suppose a jug of mass 0.8kg has risen to a height of 5 meters. What is the gravitational potential energy that the pencil possesses? Take g to be 10 meters per second squared.
- Putting it into the equation, mgh = 0.8x10x5 = 40 joules.
Suppose a torch of mass 0.2kg has risen to a height of 9 meters. What is the gravitational potential energy that the pencil possesses? Take g to be 10 meters per second squared.
- Putting it into the equation, mgh = 0.2x10x9 = 18 joules.
Suppose a plate of mass 0.5kg has risen to a height of 50 meters. What is the gravitational potential energy that the pencil possesses? Take g to be 10 meters per second squared.
- Putting it into the equation, mgh = 0.5x10x50 = 250 joules.
