When the object starts to fall, GPE is transferred into KE.
gcsescience.com 26 gcsescience.com
Potential Energy can be Elastic or Gravitational.
What is Gravitational Potential Energy?
Gravitational Potential
Energy called "GPE" is a
measure of how far an object can
fall. The higher up
it is, the further it can fall
and the more GPE it has.
GPE also
depends on the object's weight.
GPE = mass x gravity x height. GPE = m x g x h.
This equation is important!
Since mass x gravity =
weight, GPE = weight x height.
On Earth the force of gravity is
10 N/kg.
For example, the GPE of a rock that has a mass
of 75kg
and is raised to a height of 4·0 metres is
GPE =
75 x 10 x
4·0
= 3000J.
When the object starts to fall, GPE is transferred
into KE.
Links
Energy
Transfer
Revision Questions
gcsescience.com Physics Quiz Index Energy Quiz gcsescience.com
Home GCSE Chemistry GCSE Physics
Copyright © 2015 gcsescience.com. All Rights Reserved.