Gravitational Potential Energy Quiz: Test Your Knowledge

What is the energy present in an object when it is raised through a height?

How is the gravitational potential energy of an object defined at a point above the ground?

What is the minimum force required to raise an object against gravity?

What is the expression for the gravitational potential energy of an object at a height?

How does the potential energy of an object at a height vary with different zero levels?

What does the work done by gravity depend on when moving an object vertically?

Gravitational Potential Energy

An object gains energy when raised through a height due to work done against gravity.
The energy gained by the object is called gravitational potential energy.

Definition of Gravitational Potential Energy

Gravitational potential energy of an object at a point above the ground is the work done in raising it from the ground to that point against gravity.

Expression for Gravitational Potential Energy

The expression for gravitational potential energy (Ep) is Ep = mgh, where m is the mass of the object and h is the height.
The minimum force required to raise the object is equal to the weight of the object, mg.
Work done on the object against gravity is W = mg × h = mgh, which is equal to the potential energy gained by the object.

Important Points to Note

The potential energy of an object at a height depends on the ground level or the zero level chosen.
An object can have different values of potential energy with respect to different levels.
The work done by gravity depends on the difference in vertical heights of the initial and final positions of the object and not on the path along which the object is moved.

Test your knowledge on gravitational potential energy and how it relates to an object's height and work done against gravity. Explore the concept of gravitational potential energy in depth.