Energy storage and transfer gravitational energy lab

How does work done against gravity affect gravitational potential energy?

Work done against gravity in lifting an object becomes potential energy of the object-Earth system. The change in gravitational potential energy , is , with being the increase in height and the acceleration due to gravity. The gravitational potential energy of an object near Earth’s surface is due to its position in the mass-Earth system.

What is energy stored in the gravitational field?

This energy is associated with the state of separation between two objects that attract each other by the gravitational force. For convenience, we refer to this as the gained by the object, recognizing that this is energy stored in the gravitational field of Earth. Why do we use the word “system”?

Why do we need a reference level for gravitational potential energy?

The force applied to the object is an external force, from outside the system. When it does positive work it increases the gravitational potential energy of the system. Because gravitational potential energy depends on relative position, we need a reference level at which to set the potential energy equal to 0.

What is gravitational potential energy?

The work done on the mass is then . We define this to be the gravitational potential energy put into (or gained by) the object-Earth system. This energy is associated with the state of separation between two objects that attract each other by the gravitational force.

What is a change in gravitational potential energy?

The change in gravitational potential energy , is , with being the increase in height and the acceleration due to gravity. The gravitational potential energy of an object near Earth’s surface is due to its position in the mass-Earth system. Only differences in gravitational potential energy,, have physical significance.

Is potential energy a storage system?

Potential energy is a form of stored energy and is a consequence of the work done by a force. Examples of forces which have an associated potential energy are the gravitational and the electromagnetic elds and, in mechanics, a spring. In a sense potential energy is a storage system for energy.