Name: gravitational energy from height and weight
Uploaded: 2025-05-22T09:05:40.000Z
Duration: 1 min 14 s
Channel: JoVE

K12 Standards

north-carolina-k-12-science-standard-course-of-study

NC K-12 Science Standard Course of Study

9-12

Physics

Energy

PS.Phy.6.1

Gravitational Potential Energy

The gravitational potential energy is the energy stored in an object due to its position in the gravitational field.
Mathematically, it is defined as the product of an object&#8217;s weight and height above the ground.
Thus, the gravitational potential energy of a ball of mass m hanging at a height y from the ground is mgy.
For example, in ice hockey, if a puck of mass m takes a parabolic path after the shot, then the gravitational potential energy at point B is mgy, where y is the height of the puck from the ground.
When the puck moves from point A to B, the change in gravitational potential energy is positive as the gravitational potential energy increases and is equal to the negative of the work done.
Similarly, when the puck moves from point B to C, the gravitational potential energy decreases, and the work done by the gravitational force is positive.
Thus, when a body moves upwards, the gravitational potential energy increases and decreases when the body moves downwards.

gravitational potential energy

Potential energy is not just a property of each object, but also a property of the interactions between objects in a chosen system. For each type of interaction present in a system, there is a corresponding type of potential energy. The total potential energy of the system is the sum of the potential energies of all the objects. Potential energy can be classified into two major categories: gravitational potential energy and elastic potential energy. The potential energy associated with a body&#39;s weight and height above the ground is called gravitational potential energy.
The gravitational force on each particle (or body) is simply its weight (mg) near the surface of Earth, acting towards the center of the earth. According to Newton&#39;s third law, each particle exerts a force of equal magnitude and opposite direction on Earth. In addition, Newton&#39;s second law tells us that the magnitude of the acceleration produced by each of these forces on Earth is (mg) divided by the Earth&#39;s mass. Since the ratio of any ordinary object&#39;s mass to the Earth&#39;s mass is vanishingly small, the motion of Earth can be completely neglected. Therefore, we consider this system to be a group of single-particle systems, subject to the uniform gravitational force of Earth. The work done on a body by Earth&#39;s uniform gravitational force near its surface depends on the mass of the body, the acceleration due to gravity, and the difference in height that the body traversed. This work is the negative of the difference in the gravitational potential energy.
This text is adapted from <a href="https://openstax.org/books/university-physics-volume-1/pages/8-1-potential-energy-of-a-system">Openstax, University Physics Volume 1, Section 8.1: Potential Energy of a System.</a>

Potential energy is not just a property of each object, but also a property of the interactions between objects in a chosen system. For each type of ...

Education

JoVE Core

Unit 1

Potential Energy and Energy Conservation

KEY TERMS AND CONCEPTS

gravitational energy from height and weight

Gravitational potential energy depends on an object’s weight and its height above the ground. It is one part of the total potential energy of a system, which comes from the interactions between objects. In a system, the total potential energy is the sum of the potential energies for all the objects.

Potential energy is usually grouped into two main categories: gravitational potential energy and elastic potential energy. Gravitational potential energy describes the energy tied to a body’s weight and position near Earth. Elastic potential energy is the other major category, and it comes from a different kind of interaction.

Near Earth’s surface, the gravitational force on a body is its weight, or mg, and it points toward the center of Earth. By Newton’s third law, the body pulls on Earth with an equal force in the opposite direction. Newton’s second law shows that Earth’s acceleration from this force is mg divided by Earth’s mass, but Earth is so massive compared with ordinary objects that its motion can be neglected.

Because of this, we treat the situation as a single-particle system in a uniform gravitational field. The work done by Earth’s gravitational force near the surface depends on the object’s mass, the acceleration due to gravity, and the change in height. That work is the negative of the change in gravitational potential energy.

Gravitational Energy from Height and Weight

gravitational-energy-from-height-and-weight

Gravitational potential energy depends on an object’s weight and its height above the ground. It is one part of the total potential energy of a system, which comes from the interactions between objects. In a system, the total potential energy is the sum of the potential energies for all the objects. Potential energy is usually grouped into two main categories: gravitational potential energy and elastic potential energy. Gravitational potential energy describes the energy tied to a body’s...

elastic potential energy

Spring Force and Stored Energy

Elastic potential energy is stored when an elastic object is deformed, such as when a spring is stretched. An object is elastic if it returns to its original shape and size after the force is removed. This stored energy is part of a system’s potential energy. An ideal spring also exerts an elastic force. The work done by this force can be described as a change in the spring’s elastic potential energy. For a perfectly elastic spring in one dimension, that work depends only on the spring...

conservation of mechanical energy

Mechanical Energy in Isolated Systems

Mechanical energy in an isolated system is the total of kinetic energy and potential energy. Kinetic energy is the energy of motion, and potential energy is stored energy. The transcript focuses on what happens when energy shifts within a system without outside influence. In this case, only conservative forces act on the objects in the system. Conservative forces can transfer energy between kinetic energy and potential energy. Friction and drag do not act here, and no external force from...

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work done on a system by external force

External Work, Energy, and Thermal Loss

External work on a system can change its energy in more than one way. For a single particle, work done by an external force changes kinetic energy. For a system of interacting particles, internal forces also matter, and potential energy helps describe their effect. The net work done by an external force can be written as the total change in mechanical energy. Mechanical energy includes both kinetic energy and potential energy. When the system gains or loses this energy, the work expression...

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conservative forces

Conservative Forces and Path Independence

Conservative forces are forces for which the work done depends only on the starting and ending points. In this case, the work is path independent. That means the total energy of the system, including kinetic energy and potential energy, stays conserved during the change. This idea follows the law of conservation of energy. When energy shifts between kinetic and potential forms, the total amount remains the same. Because the work is completely reversible, an object can start and stop at any two...

non-conservative forces

Friction and Energy Loss in Motion

Non-conservative forces, such as friction and air resistance, remove energy from a system as it moves. The energy is not stored as potential energy. Instead, it is lost from the system and cannot be used later for useful work. These forces are path-dependent, which means the route matters. Where an object starts and stops can change the work done. A grinding wheel is one example, because the work depends on how many rotations the wheel makes. Non-conservative forces also turn large-scale...

conservation of energy

Energy Changes in a Closed System

Energy changes in a closed system follow a conservation law in physics. A conserved quantity is not the same as the everyday use of the word "conserved." In science, a conserved quantity stays constant, or it changes by a definite amount that is transferred to another system and converted into another form of the same quantity. This means a conserved quantity can change form, but it cannot be created or destroyed in a strict physical sense. For that reason, physics does not have a law of...

conservation of energy: application

Energy Conservation Problem-Solving Steps

Energy conservation problem-solving uses a clear set of steps. First, identify the system you want to study. In many cases, that system includes more than one body at the same time. Next, identify the forces acting on the object and decide whether each force is conservative. A conservative force is one whose work can be described with potential energy. If a non-conservative force such as friction does work, then mechanical energy is not conserved, and the system must be analyzed with...

force and potential energy in one dimension

force-and-potential-energy-in-one-dimension

Finding Force from Potential Energy

Force can be found from potential energy when the energy is written as a function of position. For a conservative force, the force component in a given direction equals the negative derivative of the matching potential energy with respect to displacement. This means force and the slope of potential energy have opposite signs. Where potential energy changes quickly with displacement, the force and the work done are largest. When a force acts along the positive coordinate axis, potential energy...

force and potential energy in three dimensions

force-and-potential-energy-in-three-dimensions

Gradient Force from 3D Potential Energy

Gradient force from 3D potential energy shows how a conservative force changes along the x, y, and z axes. The potential energy function U depends on all three spatial coordinates. Each force component is linked to how U changes with position along one coordinate. In one dimension, force can be written as the negative ratio of the change in potential energy to the displacement along that axis. For very small displacements, these ratios become derivatives. When a function has several variables,...

energy diagrams - i

Potential Energy Diagrams and Stability

Potential energy diagrams help describe how a mechanical system moves. Because energy is a scalar quantity, the system’s behavior is easier to interpret from the diagram. A skater on a parabolic ramp is a clear example. The ramp height changes with horizontal position, so the potential energy changes as well. As the skater moves down from the highest point, potential energy changes into kinetic energy. Kinetic energy is the energy of motion. The net force on the skater is gravitational force,...

energy diagrams - ii

Stability in Potential Energy Diagrams

Potential energy diagrams show how stable a system is at different positions. Their shape, or topology, helps identify equilibrium points. An equilibrium point is a place where the system can stay in balance because the net force is zero. At a local minimum, the potential energy is lowest. The system tends to remain there unless a net force acts on it. The slope at the minimum is zero. The slope is positive on both sides, so the force acts as a restoring force and pushes the system back. A...

key terms and concepts

Learn how gravitational potential energy depends on mass, height, and Earth’s gravity, and how work relates to changes in potential energy.

Gravitational Energy from Height and Weight | JoVE K12

physics

JoVE Core Physics introduces the theory and application of fundamental physics topics, including kinematics, dynamics, fluid mechanics, statics, waves, and acoustics, with concise and easy-to-understand animated videos. Additionally, the scientist-in-action videos demonstrate the application of related concepts in classical and original research experiments performed in today's laboratories worldwide.

Pennsylvania State Academic Standards

Physical Science

3.2.9-12.P

3.2.9-12.Q

Louisiana Student Standards for Science

High School

HS-PS3-2

HS-PS3-3

HS-PS3-1

ohios-learning-standards-and-model-curriculum

Ohio’s Learning Standards and Model Curriculum

Energy And Waves

Conservation of energy

Gravitational potential energy

Tennessee Academic Standards

PHYS.PS3.1

PHYS.PS3.3

PHYS.PS3.7

PHYS.PS3.8

Virginia  Standards of Learning

HIgh School

PH.4

PH.4.b

Minnesota Academic Standards in Science

2.2.1 9P.2.2.1.1

new-jersey-student-learning-standards-for-science

New Jersey Student Learning Standards for Science

Arizona Science Standards

HS+Phy.P4

HS+Phy.P4U1.6

Alabama Course of Study Science

9-12.PS.1.1.a

9-12.P.2.3.b

Next Generation Science Standards

HS-PS3-5

Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills

PHYS.7

PHYS.7.B

south-carolina-college-and-career-ready-science-standards

South Carolina College and Career Ready Science Standards

P-PS3-1

P-PS3-2

new-york-state-science-learning-standards

New York State Science Learning Standards

HS. Energy

HS-PS3-2.

The universe is composed of matter in different forms, and all forms of matter contain energy.&#160; The different forms of energy on Earth originate from ...

Types of Potential Energy

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Types of Kinetic Energy

The amount of kinetic energy of an object depends on its mass and speed. Consider two balls of different masses rolling down an inclined plane at the same ...

Elastic Potential Energy

Elastic potential energy is the energy stored as a result of the deformation of an elastic object, such as the stretching of a spring. An object is ...

Conservation of Mechanical Energy

The mechanical energy E of a system is the sum of its potential energy U and the kinetic energy K of the objects within it. What happens to this ...

Conservative Forces

According to the law of conservation of energy, any transition between kinetic and potential energy conserves the total energy of the system. Hence, the ...

Non-conservative Forces

Non-conservative forces are dissipative forces such as friction or air resistance. These forces take energy away from a system as it progresses. Unlike ...

Conservation of Energy

The terms &#39;conserved quantity&#39;&#160;and &#39;conservation law&#39;&#160;have specific scientific meanings in physics, which differ from the ...

Conservation of Energy: Application

When solving problems using the energy conservation law, the object (system) to be studied should first be identified. Often, in applications of energy ...

Use models to qualitatively and quantitatively analyze the kinetic and potential energy in a system.

Work

Work is done when energy is transferred from one object to another. In other words, work is when a force acts on something that undergoes a displacement ...

Positive, Negative, and Zero Work

Work is done on an object when energy is transferred to the object. In other words, work is done when a force acts on a body that undergoes a displacement ...

Work-energy Theorem

According to Newton&#x2019;s second law of motion, the sum of all the forces acting on a particle (net force) determines the rate of change in the ...

Work and Energy for Variable Forces

When an object is acted upon by a variable force, the amount of work done and the change in energy of the object can be more complex to calculate compared ...

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work-energy-theorem-for-motion-along-a-curve

Work-Energy Theorem for Motion Along a Curve

The work-energy theorem can be generalized to the motion of a particle along any curved path. The simple argument here is that the curved path can be ...

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Work Done Over an Inclined Plane

The center-of-mass framework helps to easily describe the work done on rigid bodies. Since the internal forces in a rigid body do no work, they can be ...

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Work Done by Many Forces

The total work done on an object acted upon by multiple forces can be computed using two methods that give the same result. In one method, the work done ...

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Work Done by Gravity

Gravitation is one of the four fundamental forces in nature. The force between objects on Earth and Earth itself is called gravity.
Like other forces, ...

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Power

The concept of work involves force and displacement; meanwhile, the work-energy theorem relates the net work done on a body to the difference in its ...

Power Expended by a Constant Force

The relationship between work done and the time taken to do it can be explained using the concept of power. For example, several sprinters in a race may ...

Force and Potential Energy in One Dimension

Force can be calculated from the expression for potential energy, which is a function of position. The component of a conservative force, in a particular ...

Force and Potential Energy in Three Dimensions

Consider a particle moving under the action of a conservative force that has components along each coordinate axis. Each component of force is a function ...

Energy Diagrams - I

The dynamics of a mechanical system can be easily understood by interpreting a potential energy diagram. Since energy is a scalar quantity, the ...

Energy Diagrams - II

Energy diagrams are important to understand the dynamics of a system. The topology of an energy diagram helps illustrate the equilibrium points of the ...

Analyze and interpret data to qualitatively and quantitatively explain the relationship among work, power, and energy.

PS.Phy.6.2

Understand the relationship among work, energy, and power.

Gravitational Energy from Height and Weight

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