StudyFrame

Gravitational potential energy calculator

Fill in what you know and leave the unknown box empty — it works out whichever one is missing. Nothing is uploaded; the arithmetic happens in your browser.

Potential energy = 196.2 J

The formula

PE = mgh (g = 9.81 m/s²)

Where this usually goes wrong

Height is measured from whatever you call zero. Only the change in height matters, so pick the floor and stay with it.

Worked example

A 2 kg book on a 10 m shelf holds 196 J.

Those numbers are already in the boxes above — press Work it out to see it, then change them for your own.

Related physics calculators

All 45 study calculators

Want this everywhere, not just on this page?

StudyFrame is a Chrome extension. Snip any question on any site and get the answer in place — plus summaries, flashcards and practice tests.

Free to install. 3 uses a day at no cost, more if you study on a streak.