As an object is raised higher above the ground, its gravitational potential energy increases because more work is done against gravity to lift it to that height.
How does an object’s gravitational potential energy change as it is raised higher above the ground?
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As an object is raised higher above the ground, its gravitational potential energy increases. Gravitational potential energy (GPE) is directly proportional to the object’s mass (m), the acceleration due to gravity (g), and its vertical height above a reference point (h). The formula for GPE is GPE = mgh. As the height (h) increases, the potential energy also increases, reflecting the greater work done against gravity to lift the object. This relationship emphasizes that the capacity to do work against gravity is directly linked to the height above the reference point, illustrating the transformation of energy within a gravitational field.
As an object is raised higher above the ground, its gravitational potential energy increases. This is because the object gains more potential to do work as it moves farther from the Earth’s surface against the force of gravity. The potential energy change is proportional to the increase in height.