Gravitational potential energy calculator
Lifting something stores energy equal to the work done against gravity.
m/s2
Potential energy
490.3325J
- Speed if it all becomes motion
- 9.902 853 1
- Same energy
- 0.000 136 203 kWh
- Same energy
- 0.117 192 kcal
Show the working
- Mass = 10
- Height = 5
- Gravity = 9.806 65
- Potential energy = 10 * 9.806 65 * 5 = 490.333
- Speed if it all becomes motion = sqrt(2 * 9.806 65 * 5) = 9.902 85
- Same energy = 490.333 / 3600000 = 0.000 136 203
- Same energy = 490.333 / 4184 = 0.117 192
Values are shown to six significant figures here; the arithmetic itself runs on exact fractions and is only rounded where a number is printed.
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The formula
- PE = m g h
Hauling a 10 kg weight up five metres stores about 490 J, which is a tenth of a kilocalorie. Human bodies are not efficient batteries.