Potential Energy Calculator
Calculate the gravitational potential energy of an object based on its mass and height above a reference point.
What gravitational potential energy is
Gravitational potential energy is the energy an object possesses because of its position above a reference height within a gravitational field. It is calculated as PE = mgh, where m is mass, g is gravitational acceleration, and h is height above the reference point.
How this calculator works
Enter the object’s mass, its height above the reference level, and the local gravitational acceleration (9.81 m/s² is standard for Earth’s surface). The calculator multiplies the three values together to give potential energy in joules.
This calculator assumes a uniform gravitational field near a planet’s surface; it is not accurate for very large height changes where gravity itself varies noticeably. For general educational purposes.