AQA GCSE Triple Science – Physics Practice Test

Gravitational potential energy is the energy an object has because of its height in a gravitational field. To lift a mass by height h you must do work against gravity, and that work becomes stored as potential energy. The amount stored is the product of the mass, the gravitational field strength g, and the height: m g h. Near Earth’s surface, g is about 9.8 m/s^2, so the familiar form is m g h.

Why the other expressions don’t fit: expressions like m v^2 and 1/2 m v^2 describe kinetic energy, the energy of motion, not position. The form m h misses the gravity factor g and has incorrect units for energy (kg·m instead of kg·m^2/s^2). So the correct relation uses mass, g, and height.