Gravitational Potential Energy Simplified Revision Notes for GCSE AQA Physics Combined Science

Revision notes with simplified explanations to understand Gravitational Potential Energy quickly and effectively.

Learn about Energy Changes in a System for your GCSE Physics Combined Science Exam. This Revision Note includes a summary of Energy Changes in a System for easy recall in your Physics Combined Science exam

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1.1.4 Gravitational Potential Energy

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Gravitational potential energy is the energy stored in an object due to its position above the earth's surface. This is due to the force of gravity acting on an object.

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FORMULA

E_p=m×g×h

$Ep$ : Gravitational potential energy (J)
$m$ : Mass (kg)
$g$ : Gravitational field strength (N/kg)
$h$ : Height (m)

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Example: If a 2 kg object is lifted 3 meters above the ground, the gravitational potential energy is:

Ep​=2kg×9.8N/kg×3m=58.8J

This means the object has 58.8 joules of gravitational potential energy.

Real-World Application

When an object is lifted, it gains gravitational potential energy. If the object falls, this energy is converted into kinetic energy, increasing its speed as it descends.

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