Gravitational Potential Energy
Consider lifting an object of mass m through a distance h,
To just lift the object, we must exert a force of F = m g.
In lifting it a distance h, we do work equal to
W = F s W = ( m g ) (h)
W = m g h
The object can now do that much work as it falls back to its original position; this is Potential Energy,
PEg = m g h or
Ug = m g h
Potential Energy Elastic Potential Energy Return to ToC, Potential Energy (c) 2005, Doug Davis; all rights reserved