Practice Gravitational Potential Energy in Physics

Use these practice problems to test your method after reviewing the concept explanation and worked examples.

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Quick Recap

Energy stored in an object due to its height above a reference point in a gravitational field: PE=mghPE = mgh.

The higher you lift something, the more energy it stores (ready to fall).

Showing a random 20 of 50 problems.

Example 1

easy
A 10 kg object has gravitational PE = 490 J (g = 9.8). How high is it?

Example 2

medium
A 50 kg50 \text{ kg} person climbs a 15 m15 \text{ m} ladder. How much gravitational PE do they gain? Use g=9.8 m/s2g = 9.8 \text{ m/s}^2.

Example 3

medium
A 1 kg1\text{ kg} ball is held at 2 m2\text{ m}. The reference is then shifted up to 3 m3\text{ m}. What is the ball's new PE (g=9.8g=9.8)?

Example 4

easy
A 4 kg object is lifted from 2 m to 5 m (g = 9.8). Find the change in gravitational PE.

Example 5

challenge
A 0.4 kg ball is launched up at 12 m/s (g = 9.8). Using PE and KE, find the maximum height it reaches.

Example 6

medium
A 50 kg climber ascends 200 m (g = 9.8). How much gravitational PE is gained?

Example 7

medium
A pendulum bob (0.25 kg0.25\text{ kg}) is pulled up by 0.1 m0.1\text{ m} above its lowest point (g=9.8g=9.8). Find its maximum speed at the bottom (no friction).

Example 8

easy
A 5 kg object is 4 m high (g = 9.8). Find its gravitational PE.

Example 9

medium
A 2 kg object's PE relative to the floor is -39.2 J (g = 9.8). How far below the floor is it?

Example 10

medium
A 1200 kg elevator rises 30 m (g = 9.8). How much work is done against gravity?

Example 11

easy
If you choose your reference at the ceiling, does an object sitting on the floor have positive, zero, or negative PE?

Example 12

easy
An 8 kg8\text{ kg} box is lifted 0.5 m0.5\text{ m} above the floor (g=9.8g=9.8). Find its gravitational PE relative to the floor.

Example 13

easy
A 20 kg20\text{ kg} object has PE=392 JPE = 392\text{ J} (g=9.8g=9.8). How high is it above the reference?

Example 14

medium
A 3 kg object on a 5 m ramp whose top is at 4 m height (g = 9.8). Find its gravitational PE at the top.

Example 15

easy
A 3 kg3\text{ kg} book sits on a shelf 1.2 m1.2\text{ m} above the floor (reference). Find its gravitational PE (g=9.8g=9.8).

Example 16

hard
A 4 kg4\text{ kg} object is lifted at constant velocity through 3 m3\text{ m} in 4 s4\text{ s} (g=9.8g=9.8). Find (a) the work done against gravity, and (b) the average power.

Example 17

easy
Does gravitational PE depend on the path taken to reach a given height, or only on the height itself?

Example 18

medium
A 0.6 kg0.6\text{ kg} ball drops 4 m4\text{ m} (g=9.8g=9.8). Use energy conservation to find its speed just before hitting the ground (no friction).

Example 19

easy
A 1 kg object rests on the floor chosen as the reference (h = 0). What is its gravitational PE?

Example 20

medium
A 6 kg object is lifted to 5 m and then a 2 kg object to 3 m (g = 9.8). Find the total gravitational PE.
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