Question

Define gravitational potential energy.

Answer 1

1. Gravitational potential energy is the energy an object possesses because of its position in a gravitational field.
2. The most common use of gravitational potential energy is for an object near the surface of the Earth where the gravitational acceleration can be assumed to be constant at about 9.8 m/s².

The gravitational potential energy at any point for an object can be given by the following formula,

$$\begin{gathered} \mathrm{U}=\mathrm{mgh} \\ \mathrm{Where}\mathrm{U}=\mathrm{potential}\mathrm{energy} \\ \mathrm{m}=\mathrm{mass}\mathrm{of}\mathrm{the}\mathrm{object} \\ \mathrm{h}=\mathrm{height}\mathrm{displacement}\mathrm{of}\mathrm{the}\mathrm{object}\mathrm{from}\mathrm{initial}\mathrm{position} \\ \mathrm{g}=\mathrm{acceleration}\mathrm{due}\mathrm{to}\mathrm{gravity}\mathrm{with}\mathrm{a}\mathrm{value}\mathrm{of}9.8\mathrm{m}/{\mathrm{s}}^2 \end{gathered}$$