Find near-Earth gravitational potential energy U = m g h.
| Potential energy (J) | – |
Use this calculator for gravitational potential energy close to Earth’s surface, where g is nearly constant: U = m g h.
h is height above your chosen zero, so U can be negative if you go below that zero. A stretched spring instead stores ½ k x²; that is a different calculator. This is not the 1/r Newtonian potential used in orbits.
Mass (kg): Mass in kilograms.
Height (m): Height above your reference, in metres. Negative is below that zero.
g (m/s²): Local gravity; usually 9.81 m/s² on Earth.
Potential energy (J): U = m g h, in joules.
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