Potential Energy Calculator
Calculate gravitational potential energy from mass, height, and gravity.
Potential Energy (PE)
Gravitational Potential Energy Formula
Gravitational potential energy is the energy stored in an object due to its position in a gravitational field. It depends on the object's mass, its height above a reference level, and the local acceleration due to gravity.
PE = m · g · h
- PE - Potential energy (joules, J)
- m - Mass (kilograms, kg)
- g - Acceleration due to gravity (m/s²)
- h - Height above the reference level (m)
Reference Level
Potential energy is always measured relative to a chosen zero height (the reference level). The height h in the formula is the vertical distance above that reference. Choosing a different reference level (for example, the ground versus a table top) changes the numerical value of the potential energy, so it is important to state which level you are measuring from.
Gravity on Other Bodies
The acceleration due to gravity differs from one celestial body to another. You can edit the gravity field above to match the body you are studying.
| Body | Gravity (m/s²) |
|---|---|
| Earth | 9.81 |
| Moon | 1.62 |
| Mars | 3.71 |