Potential Energy Calculator
Calculate Potential Energy values for science, physics, chemistry, and engineering problems.
This potential energy calculator finds the gravitational potential energy an object has due to its height above a reference point, based on its mass, height, and the local gravitational acceleration.
Enter the object's mass and height, and the calculator returns its gravitational potential energy.
Worked Calculation Examples
| Scenario | Result | Calculation Step |
|---|---|---|
| Mass 5 kg at height 10 m | PE = 490 J | PE = 5 × 9.8 × 10 = 490 J. |
| Mass 70 kg (person) at height 3 m | PE = 2,058 J | PE = 70 × 9.8 × 3 = 2,058 J. |
The Potential Energy Formula
PE = mass x gravity x height (mgh), where gravity is typically 9.8 m/s^2 on Earth's surface, mass is in kilograms, and height is in meters, giving potential energy in joules. This energy represents the work that would be done by gravity if the object fell from its current height to the reference point.
Potential Energy Converts to Kinetic Energy
As an object falls, its gravitational potential energy converts into kinetic energy, and in the absence of air resistance, the total mechanical energy (potential plus kinetic) stays constant throughout the fall - this conservation of energy principle lets you calculate an object's speed at any height during a fall without needing separate motion equations.
How to Use the Potential Energy Calculator
- Open the Potential Energy Calculator and enter the values requested in the input fields.
- Check the units, percentages, dates, or time periods before reading the answer.
- Review the instant result and adjust any value to compare another scenario.
- Use the formula, example, and FAQs below to understand how the potential energy calculator works.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the formula for gravitational potential energy?
PE = mgh, where m is mass, g is gravitational acceleration (about 9.8 m/s^2 on Earth), and h is height above a reference point.
What happens to potential energy as an object falls?
It converts into kinetic energy - the potential energy lost as height decreases equals the kinetic energy gained as speed increases, assuming no energy is lost to air resistance.
Does potential energy depend on the reference point?
Yes - potential energy is always measured relative to a chosen reference height, so the same object can have different potential energy values depending on which height is defined as zero.
How do I use this potential energy calculator?
Enter the known values, review the units or settings, and the calculator updates the result instantly. The formula and example on this page show how the answer is produced.
What does the Potential Energy Calculator calculate?
Calculate Potential Energy values for science, physics, chemistry, and engineering problems. It is designed for fast browser-based calculations without sign-up, downloads, or manual spreadsheet setup.
What formula does this potential energy use?
The formula is: PE = mgh. The concept of potential energy - stored energy due to position - was named and formalized by Scottish engineer William Rankine in 1853, complementing the kinetic energy concept that Coriolis had defined a few decades earlier. Together, potential and kinetic energy became the two halves of the law of conservation of mechanical energy, one of 19th-century physics' most important unifying principles, stating that in the absence of friction, the sum of the two remains constant throughout a system's motion.
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Last updated: September 27, 2026.