Updated on September 5th, 2025

Potential Energy Calculator

Created By Jehan Wadia

PE = m × g × h

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Introduction

The Potential Energy Calculator helps you find how much energy an object has because of its position. When you lift something up, it gains potential energy. The higher you lift it, the more energy it stores. This stored energy can turn into movement when the object falls back down.

To find potential energy, you need three things: the object's mass (how heavy it is), its height above the ground, and gravity's pull. Our calculator uses the formula PE = mgh, where PE is potential energy, m is mass, g is gravity (9.8 m/s² on Earth), and h is height. Just enter your values, and the calculator will show you the potential energy in joules.

How to use our Potential Energy Calculator

Enter the mass and height of an object to find out how much potential energy it has stored.

Mass: Type in how heavy your object is in kilograms (kg). This is the weight of the thing you want to calculate potential energy for.

Height: Type in how high your object is from the ground in meters (m). This is the distance the object could fall down.

Understanding Potential Energy

Potential energy is the energy an object has because of its position or height. When you lift a book above your head, it gains potential energy. The higher you lift it, the more potential energy it has. This energy is "stored" and ready to be used - if you drop the book, the potential energy turns into movement energy as it falls.

The amount of potential energy depends on three things: how heavy the object is (its mass), how high it is above the ground (its height), and the strength of gravity. On Earth, gravity always pulls things down with the same force. We use a simple formula to find potential energy: multiply the object's mass by its height, then multiply by gravity's strength (9.8 meters per second squared on Earth). You can explore how gravity affects objects with our Gravitational Force Calculator.

Potential energy is measured in joules, named after scientist James Joule. One joule is a small amount of energy - about the energy needed to lift an apple one meter high. Heavy objects have more potential energy than light ones at the same height. Also, objects higher up have more potential energy than those closer to the ground. This is why dropping a bowling ball from a tall building can cause more damage than dropping it from your hand. When objects fall and convert potential energy to motion, you can calculate this transformation using our Kinetic Energy Calculator or explore falling motion with our Free Fall Calculator.


Frequently Asked Questions

What units should I use for mass and height?

Use kilograms (kg) for mass and meters (m) for height. The calculator will give you the answer in joules (J). If you have pounds or feet, convert them first before using the calculator.

Why is gravity always 9.8 in the formula?

The number 9.8 m/s² is how strong Earth's gravity pulls things down. This number stays the same everywhere on Earth's surface. On other planets, gravity would be different.

What happens to potential energy when an object falls?

When an object falls, its potential energy changes into kinetic energy (movement energy). The total energy stays the same - it just changes from stored energy to moving energy.

Can potential energy be negative?

Yes, if you measure height below your starting point. If you pick ground level as zero and go underground, the height becomes negative, making the potential energy negative too.

How much is one joule of energy?

One joule is a tiny amount of energy. It's about the energy you need to lift a small apple one meter high, or the energy in a cricket chirp.

Does the shape of an object affect its potential energy?

No, the shape doesn't matter for gravitational potential energy. Only the mass and height count. A ball and a cube with the same mass at the same height have the same potential energy.

What if my object is on a hill or ramp?

Measure the vertical height from the ground to the object, not the distance along the slope. Only the straight-up height matters for potential energy.

Why do heavier objects have more potential energy?

Heavier objects have more mass, and it takes more energy to lift them up. Since more energy was used to raise them, they store more potential energy at the same height.


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