About the Potential Energy Calculator
What is the Potential Energy Calculator?
Gravitational potential energy is the energy stored in an object because of its height. Lift a 10 kg bag 10 m and you store about 981 joules, which is released as it falls.
Choose Earth, the Moon, Mars or Jupiter to see how gravity changes the result.
How to use the Potential Energy Calculator
- Mass (kg) (sample: 10)
- Height (m) (sample: 10)
- Gravity (sample: Earth (9.807 m/s²))
- Press Calculate Potential Energy (results also refresh as you type). The result card shows the Potential Energy, along with In kilojoules, Speed if dropped (no air resistance), Time to fall and In watt-hours.
Formula used
PE = m × g × h
- g = gravitational acceleration: 9.807 m/s² on Earth
- Impact speed = √(2gh), ignoring air resistance
Height is measured from whatever level you choose as zero.
Worked example
These are the sample values already filled in the calculator above, and the result it returns for them:
| Input | Sample value |
|---|---|
| Mass (kg) | 10 |
| Height (m) | 10 |
| Gravity | Earth (9.807 m/s²) |
| Result | Value |
|---|---|
| Potential Energy | 980.67 J |
| In kilojoules | 0.9807 kJ |
| Speed if dropped (no air resistance) | 14 m/s |
| Time to fall | 1.428 s |
| In watt-hours | 0.2724 Wh |
Tips for using the Potential Energy Calculator
- Hydroelectric plants turn the potential energy of stored water into electricity.
- On the Moon, the same lift stores only about a sixth of the energy.