2.11.4 Gravitational Potential Energy


Gravitational potential energy is the energy stored in an object as the result of its vertical position (i.e., height).

Formula:


Example:
A ball of 1kg mass is droppped from a height of 4m. What is the maximum kinetic energy possessed by the ball before it reached the ground?

Answer:
According to the principle of conservation of energy, the amount of potential energy losses is equal to the amount of kinetic energy gain.

Maximum kinetic energy
= Maximum potentila energy losses
= mgh = (1)(10)(4) = 40J