Wha mgh in physics

Potential energy is the energy an object possesses due to its position or state. In the context of gravity, it's often called gravitational potential energy.

The formula mgh specifically calculates the gravitational potential energy (PE) of an object near the Earth's surface.

• 'm' stands for the mass of the object (in kilograms, kg).
• 'g' stands for the acceleration due to gravity (approximately 9.8 m/s² on Earth).
• 'h' stands for the height of the object above a reference point (in meters, m).

The unit for potential energy, like all forms of energy, is the Joule (J).

The formula shows that potential energy increases with mass, gravitational acceleration, and height. An object with more mass, in a stronger gravitational field, or higher up will have more potential energy.