Method
The calculator multiplies mass by gravitational acceleration and height. It is best for near-surface examples where gravity is approximately constant and height is measured relative to a chosen reference level.
Example
A 2 kg object raised 10 m under standard gravity has potential energy of 2 x 9.80665 x 10 = about 196.1 J.
Common mistakes
Height must be measured from the chosen reference level. Potential energy can be positive, zero or negative depending on that reference.
Limitations
Local gravity varies slightly by latitude and elevation. Large height changes, orbital mechanics, springs and electric potential energy require different models.
References
- BIPM SI Brochure, for joule and SI derived-unit context.
- NIST SI guidance, for standard SI notation and unit expression.
Last reviewed: 2026-05-17