Gravitational potential energy
What Gravitational potential energy means in Physics GCSE, as defined for OCR.
Definitions of Gravitational potential energy
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Reference: OCR
The energy associated with an object raised above ground level, given by E_p = m × g × h, with g taken as 9.8 N/kg and h the height in metres.
Stored energy calculated from mass, gravitational field strength and height.
The energy stored when a mass is raised against gravity, measured in joules.
Topics that use Gravitational potential energy
- Forces in action (OCR GCSE)
- Newton's laws (OCR GCSE)
- Work done (OCR GCSE)
Related terms
- Elastic potential energy
- Kinetic energy
- Mass
- Rearranging formulae
- spring constant
- work done by a force
- Area under a force–extension graph
- balanced forces
Using Gravitational potential energy in the exam
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