Potential Energy can be Elastic or Gravitational.
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 which 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.
Headings Energy Transfer Search Questions
gcsescience.com Contents Index Quizzes gcsescience.com
Copyright © 2011 Dr. Colin France. All Rights Reserved.