What is gravitational potential energy?
Gravitational potential energy (PE) is the energy an object possesses because of its position in a gravitational field. The formula is PE = mgh, where m is mass in kilograms, g is the acceleration due to gravity (approximately 9.81 m/s² on Earth), and h is the height in metres above a reference point. The result is measured in joules (J). Potential energy is converted to kinetic energy when an object falls, and the two together obey the law of conservation of energy.
How to use this calculator
Choose what you want to find—Energy, Mass, or Height—with the toggle. Enter the two known values. The gravity field defaults to Earth's standard value (9.80665 m/s²), but you can tap a preset button for the Moon, Mars, or Jupiter, or type any custom value. Click Calculate to see the result, the applied formula, a plain-language interpretation, and (when solving for energy) conversions to kJ, calories, watt-hours, foot-pounds, and BTU.
Rearranging the formula
From PE = mgh you can derive m = PE / (g·h) and h = PE / (m·g). The calculator handles the rearrangement automatically—just select the unknown and enter the other values.
Practical applications
Hydroelectric dams convert the potential energy of stored water into electricity. Roller-coaster designers calculate PE at the top of a hill to ensure enough speed at the bottom. Civil engineers assess the energy of elevated loads in crane operations. Physicists use PE in orbital-mechanics calculations, and athletes analyse the energy stored in a raised barbell or a high-jump arc. The gravity presets make it easy to explore scenarios on other planets—useful for aerospace coursework and science outreach.
Tips
Use consistent SI units (kg, m, m/s²) for results in joules. Height is measured relative to a chosen reference level—sea level, the ground, or any convenient datum. On Earth, g varies slightly with altitude and latitude; 9.80665 m/s² is the internationally agreed standard. This free calculator runs entirely in your browser with no sign-up, no download, and instant results on any device. Bookmark it for quick potential-energy calculations whenever you need them.