⛰️ פּאָטענציעלע ענערגיע קלאַס

װײַז די װײַז־פּראָגראַם

Gravitational potential energy is the energy an object stores by virtue of its height in a gravitational field: PE = m × g × h, in joules, where m is mass in kilograms, g is the gravitational acceleration and h is the height it is raised. On Earth g is the standard 9.80665 m/s²; under advanced options you can switch to the Moon (1.62), Mars (3.72), Jupiter (24.79) and other bodies to see how the same lift stores very different amounts of energy. Choose which quantity to solve for — energy, mass or height — and the tool also reports the free-fall impact speed from that height, v = √(2gh).

As a worked example, lifting a 2 kg mass 10 m on Earth stores PE = 2 × 9.80665 × 10 ≈ 196 joules. Let it fall back and, ignoring air resistance, all of that converts to kinetic energy, so it lands at v = √(2 × 9.80665 × 10) ≈ 14 m/s. Take the identical lift to the Moon and only about 32 J is stored, because lunar gravity is roughly one-sixth of Earth’s.

Potential energy is measured relative to a chosen reference level — usually the ground — so only differences in height carry physical meaning. The concept underlies hydroelectric dams, pumped storage, pendulums, roller coasters and any situation where raising a mass banks energy that can later be released, and it pairs directly with kinetic energy through conservation of energy as objects rise and fall.